MacBook Neo: Here's Which Models Are Selling Out
If you want a MacBook Neo delivered on launch day next week, you might want to act fast, as the laptop is beginning to sell out for March 11 delivery. A spot check of Apple's online store in the U.S. reveals that some MacBook Neo configurations are now estimated to be delivered between March 16 and March 30. Here are the estimated delivery dates for each configuration as of 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time: 256GB/Blush: March 16 — March 23 256GB/Citrus: March 11 256GB/Indigo: March 11 256GB/Silver: March 11 512GB/Blush: March 23 — March 30 512GB/Citrus: March 23 — March 30 512GB/Indigo: March 16 — March 23 512GB/Silver: March 11MacBook Neo pre-orders began March 4. Without knowing how much supply there is for each configuration, it is hard to draw any conclusions from the delivery dates listed above. If we assume that supply is equal across all configurations, then Blush and 512GB configurations appear to be the most popular options in the U.S. so far during the pre-order window. With a starting price of $599 in the U.S., or just $499 for college students, the MacBook Neo is likely to be a hit with both students and average customers who need a Mac for everyday tasks such as web browsing and document editing. Apple does not release Mac sales figures on a model-by-model basis, but the company's next quarterly earnings report might provide some broader insight.Related Roundup: MacBook NeoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple's 'HomePad' Now Rumored to Launch Even Later Than Expected
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub device will launch in the fall of 2026, according to the leaker and prototype collector known as "Kosutami." In a new post on X, Kosutami said that the device, colloquially dubbed the "HomePad," is now set to arrive in the fall of 2026. The fall runs from September to December, and usually coincides with Apple's busiest release period of the year. Apple has reportedly been working on the device for several years, with the aim for it to serve as a centralized location for controlling smart home products, listening to music and podcasts, making video calls, and getting glanceable information like the weather and calendar events. The device is expected to have a 7-inch square display and a front-facing camera. There may be two versions, with one designed to be mounted on a wall and the other featuring a speaker base that apparently looks similar to a HomePod mini and can be placed on a desktop or countertop. Built-in sensors will be able to determine when someone is near the home hub, and the displayed content will change based on who is present. It will be heavily reliant on Siri voice commands, and ‌Siri‌ could even have a new personified look on the hub, with one design described as a version of the Mac Finder icon. Apple could price the home hub somewhere around $350. The device was originally rumored to launch in early 2025, but due to delays with Apple Intelligence, its apparent release date moved to early 2026, and now to the fall. The rumored release timing means the HomePad could arrive alongside products like the iPhone 18 Pro in September or redesigned MacBook Pro models in October. Tag: Apple Command CenterThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Announces New Collaboration With Sydney Opera House
Apple and the Sydney Opera House today announced a yearlong collaboration to help inspire the next generation of creatives in Australia. The effort will expand access to initiatives that support art, design, and culture in the country. Through this collaboration, Apple and the Opera House will focus on interactive programming and experiences for young people in Australia. Apple said it will be the founding partner of a new international children's festival being presented later this year. Apple will also support the Opera House's Centre for Creativity and explore new ways to enhance Opera House programming and experiences through technology. From March 25 to March 27, the Opera House's eastern sails will be illuminated with artwork created in the Procreate app on the iPad by a group of 10 emerging Australian artists. Through free Today at Apple sessions, the public will have the opportunity to create and submit artwork for potential illumination as well. "The yearlong collaboration with the Sydney Opera House and Illuminating Creativity is a celebration of this legacy, bringing together the incredible talent of Australian artists and the transformative power of iPad and Procreate," said Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak. "We are thrilled to be working with such an iconic Australian cultural landmark to help inspire the next generation of creatives." More details are available on the Apple Newsroom website in Australia.Tags: Australia, ProcreateThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: Here's How It Compares to the M1 MacBook Air
Benchmarks for the new MacBook Neo surfaced today, and unsurprisingly, CPU performance is almost identical to the iPhone 16 Pro. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ uses the same 6-core A18 Pro chip that was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, but it has one fewer GPU core. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ earned a single-core score of 3461 and a multi-core score of 8668, along with a Metal score of 31286. Here's how the Neo's scores compare to ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and other devices that make apt comparisons: iPhone 16 Pro - 3445 single-core, 8624 multi-core, 32575 Metal M1 MacBook Air - 2346 single-core, 8342 multi-core, 33148 Metal M4 MacBook Air - 3696 single-core, 14730 multi-core, 54630 Metal M3 iPad Air - 3048 single-core, 11678 multi-core, 44395 Metal iPad 11 - 2587 single-core, 6036 multi-core, 19395 Metal Since the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has one fewer GPU core than the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro, it makes sense to see a slightly lower Metal score. When comparing the ‌MacBook Neo‌'s performance to existing Macs, the A18 Pro's multi-core performance is on par with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, but single-core performance is much higher than it was with the ‌M1‌. It's closer to the M3 or M4 chip. High single-core performance is a good fit for the ‌MacBook Neo‌ audience, because single-core speeds are important for activities like web browsing, using document apps, and streaming video. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ isn't really built for video editing, music creation, 3D modeling, and similar tasks where multi-core performance makes more of a difference. Apple does not compare ‌MacBook Neo‌ performance to other Macs, iPads, or iPhones. The company's low-cost MacBook focuses on competing with similar-priced Windows PCs and Chromebooks. In its marketing materials, Apple says the A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster for "everyday tasks" than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5. It's also up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads and up to 2x faster for photo editing. We're only seeing one benchmark result so far, so averages could be slightly different when more Neo machines are benchmarked, but the scores are right in line with what's expected. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is priced starting at $599, and it is available for preorder now. It is set to launch on March 11.Related Roundup: MacBook NeoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple's M5 Max Chip Achieves a New Record in First Benchmark Result
The first Geekbench 6 result for a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Max chip surfaced today, and Apple has achieved record-breaking performance. In this unconfirmed result, the M5 Max with an 18-core CPU achieved a score of 29,233 for multi-core CPU performance, which tops the 27,726 score achieved by the Mac Studio's M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU. M5 Max is now the fastest Apple silicon chip ever, and it even topped every other consumer PC processor in the Geekbench database. In terms of multi-core CPU performance, the M5 Max is up to 5% faster than the M3 Ultra, and up to 15% faster than the M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU. Here is a comparison of the multi-core CPU results:16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max (18-core CPU): 29,233 (one result) Mac Studio with M3 Ultra (32-core CPU): 27,726 (average of all results) Mac Studio with M4 Max (16-core CPU): 26,166 (average of all results) 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (16-core CPU): 25,702 (average of all results)Stay tuned for coverage of additional benchmarks, including Metal scores for graphics. MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max are available to pre-order now, and they will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on March 11.Related Roundup: MacBook ProTags: Benchmarks, GeekbenchBuyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: MacBook ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Seeds Revised Third Betas of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 to Developers, New Public Betas
Apple today seeded revised third betas of the upcoming iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming three days after Apple provided the initial beta to developers. Apple has also released a new version of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 for public beta testers. Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update. iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 add multiple new features to the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌. A Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music lets you generate songs for any idea, mood, emotion, or activity using a text-based prompt. There's also a Concerts Near You feature for finding local shows, and a redesigned look for albums and playlists with full-page artwork. Apple Podcasts is getting native video podcasting capabilities that will make it easier to create, distribute, and monetize video podcast content through the Podcasts app. Video episodes will integrate with existing Apple podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions. Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS, which will eventually bring full encryption to text conversations between Android and ‌iPhone‌ users. Apple is testing ‌RCS‌ with iPhone-to-iPhone conversations and iPhone-to-Android conversations. Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default, there's a new ambient music widget, new average bedtime metrics in the sleep app, and plenty more. All of the features in iOS 26.4 can be found in our iOS 26.4 beta features guide. Update: Apple also released a new third beta of watchOS 26.4. Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26Related Forum: iOS 26This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Missing From Apple's Announcements: iPad 12 With Apple Intelligence
In his newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was likely to announce at least some but possibly not all of the following products between March 2 and March 4: the iPhone 17e, MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, updated entry-level iPad and iPad Air models, and a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip. As it turns out, Apple announced nearly all of those products, with the sole exception being an updated entry-level iPad. In fact, we got two more products on top, in the form of an updated Studio Display and a higher-end Studio Display XDR. Apple is not expected to unveil any additional products this week, so the wait for an iPad 12 continues for now. The device is expected to have two key upgrades over the iPad 11, including a faster A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support. In fact, one rumor claimed that the iPad 12 might even be powered by Apple's latest 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: iPadBuyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Mac Studio 512GB RAM Option Disappears Amid Global DRAM Shortage
Apple quietly updated Mac Studio configuration options this week, removing the 512GB memory upgrade. As of yesterday, there is no option to purchase a ‌Mac Studio‌ with 512GB RAM, with the machine now maxing out at 256GB. The ‌Mac Studio‌ starts with 36GB RAM, but there were upgrades ranging from 48GB to 512GB, with the higher tier upgrades limited to the M3 Ultra chip. Now there are options ranging from 48GB to 256GB, with wait times into May for the 256GB upgrade. Apple has also raised the price for the 256GB RAM upgrade option. It used to cost $1,600 to go from 96GB to 256GB on the high-end M3 Ultra machine, but now it costs $2,000. 512GB was $4,000 when it was available. Apple has likely removed the option to purchase 512GB of memory because of global DRAM shortages that have dried up supply and caused prices to soar, and it's also probably why shipping times for a configuration with 256GB RAM range into May. Demand for the ‌Mac Studio‌ has increased due to consumers seeking machines suitable for running local AI agents, which could also be a wait time factor. Memory scarcity is already having an effect on DRAM pricing, and it could affect PC and smartphone sales in the months to come. Apple is able to absorb higher memory costs in the short term, and it is well-positioned to minimize the effect on consumers because it is better able to secure available DRAM supply than smaller companies. We are expecting M5 Max and M5 Ultra versions of the ‌Mac Studio‌ in 2026, but it is not yet clear when Apple might release an update. (Thanks, Ólafur!)Related Roundup: Mac StudioBuyer's Guide: Mac Studio (Caution)Related Forum: Mac StudioThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Download Apple's New MacBook Neo Wallpapers
While the MacBook Neo does not launch until next week, Apple's colorful new wallpapers designed for the laptop are included in the macOS 26.3.1 update. MacBook Neo is available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver finishes, and there is a Mac wallpaper available for each, with download links below:Blush Citrus Indigo SilverApple's Mac User Guide explains how to change a Mac's wallpaper.Related Roundups: MacBook Neo, macOS TahoeRelated Forum: macOS TahoeThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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AirTag 1 Gets Major Discount With 4-Pack at $64
Apple's first-generation AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $64.00 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around March 10, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack that's within $1 of the Amazon all-time low price. Deals on the 1-Pack have been fluctuating for a few days and are currently gone, but an all-time low price could return soon. $35 OFFAirTag 4-Pack for $64.00 These first generation models will eventually stop being sold by third-party retailers like Amazon, so if you've been waiting for a deal now is the time to buy. Apple just debuted the all-new AirTag, featuring longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker. 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 forums

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Apple Explains 'MacBook Neo' Name
Until a last-minute leak revealed the MacBook Neo name, it was widely assumed that Apple's lower-cost MacBook would simply be named "MacBook." After all, Apple offered a plain "MacBook" from 2006 to 2012, and again from 2015 to 2019. In the end, Apple did go with MacBook Neo branding, and it has explained why in a new interview. In short, Apple said MacBook Neo sounds fresh. "We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and felt like it really suited the spirit of this product," said Colleen Novielli, a Mac product marketing director, in conversation with TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff. Indeed, Apple has emphasized the MacBook Neo's newness. "MacBook Neo is new, exciting, original, and HERE," said Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak, in a social media post on Wednesday. "With a beautiful aluminum design, 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 16 hours of battery life, and the power of Apple silicon, you'll fly through everyday tasks. It'll be love at first Mac." Many of the MacBook Neo lifestyle images that Apple shared show young people. The more affordable laptop will undoubtedly be popular with students. The colorful MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the U.S., and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by a version of 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. With the MacBook Neo, which launches on Wednesday, March 11, Apple could reshape the lower-end laptop market in a big way.Related Roundup: MacBook NeoThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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M3 vs. M4 iPad Air Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple's latest iPad Air is a minor upgrade over last year's model, but there are still some changes worth noting beyond a new chip. The eighth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ builds on the foundation of last year's model with a series of specific upgrades focused on performance, memory, and connectivity. While the overall design and experience remains the same, the newer model introduces Apple's M4 chip, additional unified memory, Apple-designed wireless hardware, and support for newer connectivity standards. Here's everything that differs between the 2025 and 2026 ‌iPad Air‌ models: ‌iPad Air‌ (seventh-generation, 2025) ‌iPad Air‌ (eighth-generation, 2026) M3 chip M4 chip 8GB unified memory 12GB unified memory Broadcom wireless chip Apple N1 wireless chip Wi-Fi 6E connectivity Wi-Fi 7 connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity Bluetooth 6 connectivity Qualcomm SDX70M 5G modem Apple C1X modem The largest change between the two models is the transition from Apple's M3 chip to the newer M4 chip. Beyond modest CPU performance gains, the M4 introduces architectural improvements that increase transistor count, boost machine learning performance, improve memory bandwidth, and enhance efficiency through updated fabrication technology and redesigned cores. M3 Chip M4 Chip Made using TSMC's 3nm technology (N3) Made using TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ technology (N3E) Based on iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip (2023) Based on iPhone 16's A18 chip (2024) 25 billion transistors 28 billion transistors (+12%) 8-core CPU (4 performance + 4 efficiency cores) 8-core CPU (3 performance + 5 efficiency cores) 4.05 GHz CPU clock speed 4.3 GHz CPU clock speed 16-core Neural Engine, 18 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second (+111%) LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory 100 GB/s memory bandwidth 120 GB/s memory bandwidth (+20%) Dedicated display engine GPU with standard power efficiency More power-efficient GPU: Maintains performance with significantly less power Overall, the upgrade from the 2025 iPad Air to the 2026 ‌iPad Air‌ is minor. The new model introduces a faster M4 chip, more unified memory, and newer wireless technologies, but the broader experience remains fundamentally unchanged in any noticeable way. Apple itself signals how incremental the update is: the company continues to advertise the same battery life, despite the introduction of the more efficient C1X modem, and the device retains identical color options and even the same marketing wallpapers. For the overwhelming majority of ‌iPad Air‌ users, the performance difference between the two models is likely to be negligible, especially for everyday tasks. The new ‌iPad Air‌ is primarily aimed at buyers who simply want a capable, well-balanced iPad rather than those seeking a major upgrade from a more recent model. The Air continues to occupy the middle ground in Apple's lineup, offering significantly more power and capability than the entry-level ‌iPad‌ while remaining substantially less expensive than the iPad Pro. The transition to the M4 chip, additional memory, and newer connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 means that new buyers receive more modern hardware and longer-term headroom, making the device somewhat more future-proof. For existing users, however, there is little reason to upgrade. Anyone using an M3-based ‌iPad Air‌ will see minimal real-world benefits from moving to the M4 model, and even owners of M1 or M2 versions are unlikely to experience transformative improvements in typical use. Instead, the update simply ensures that customers purchasing a new ‌iPad Air‌ today receive Apple's newer underlying technology in a familiar package.Related Roundup: iPad Air Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple's Brand New M4 iPad Air Gets First Cash Discount at Best Buy, Up to $50 Off
It's Apple pre-order week, and we've already covered all of the offers you can find on iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. In addition to these deals, Best Buy is providing $40 in savings on the new 128GB Wi-Fi M4 iPad Air, with My Best Buy Plus/Total members getting an extra $10 off. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. With this discount, all shoppers can get the 128GB Wi-Fi M4 iPad Air for $559.00, down from $599.00. If you have a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, you can get the tablet for $549.00. $40 OFFM4 iPad Air (128GB Wi-Fi) for $559.00 $40 OFFM4 iPad Air (128GB Cell) for $709.00 Otherwise, Best Buy is offering $50 discounts on all other models of the M4 iPad Air, but these require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership. Only the 128GB models have a discount available to all shoppers. 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 forums

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iPhone 17e Has 8GB of RAM as Expected
Apple does not advertise RAM amounts in iPhones, but MacRumors has confirmed this information through Apple's developer tool Xcode. Like the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17e is equipped with 8GB of RAM, according to the Xcode data. This was the expected amount of RAM, and it is the minimum required for a device to be compatible with Apple Intelligence. This means both the standard iPhone 17 model and the lower-end iPhone 17e are equipped with the A19 chip and 8GB of RAM. However, the iPhone 17e has a slightly limited 4-core GPU, while the iPhone 17 has a 5-core GPU. iPhone 17e can be pre-ordered now and launches on Wednesday, March 11.Related Roundup: iPhone 17eThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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This iOS Exploit Kit Has 23 Attacks – But Lockdown Mode Stops It Cold
Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has a new report out about a powerful iOS exploit kit called "Coruna," which traveled from a surveillance vendor's customer to a Russian espionage group to Chinese cybercriminals, revealing a sophisticated exploit "supply chain" in the process. Described as one of the most comprehensive iOS exploit toolkits to have been documented publicly, Coruna targets iPhones running iOS 13.0 through iOS 17.2.1, containing 23 exploits across four years of iOS versions. According to GTIG, it was first spotted in February 2025, when it was used by a customer of a commercial surveillance vendor. By summer 2025, the same framework appeared in watering hole attacks (where an attacker compromises websites that their intended targets are likely to visit) by a suspected Russian espionage group targeting Ukrainian users. Then, in late in 2025, a China-based, financially motivated actor deployed it across a large network of fake financial and crypto websites. GTIG said it was unclear how the exploit kit got passed from actor to actor, but that it suggests an active market for "second hand" zero-day exploits. As for the kit's contents, it's described as extremely well-engineered. When someone visits an infected website, it figures out what kind of iPhone they're using and what software version it's running, then picks the right attack for that specific device. If the user has Apple's Lockdown Mode turned on though, the kit bails – it doesn't even try. The attack code is scrambled with strong encryption, so it's hard for security researchers to intercept and analyze, and it's packaged in a custom format that the developers apparently invented themselves. The code also includes detailed notes written in English explaining how it all works, and uses attack techniques that haven't been seen publicly before, according to GTIG's analysis. The kit targets cryptocurrency wallets and financial data, and is capable of hooking into 18 different crypto apps to exfiltrate wallet credentials. The payload can decode QR codes from images on disk, and it also has a module to analyze blobs of text to look for BIP39 word sequences or very specific keywords like "backup phrase" or "bank account." It even scans Apple Notes for typical seed phrases. Anyone still on iOS 17.2.1 or earlier is potentially vulnerable to the exploit kit, which doesn't work against newer iOS versions, so make sure to update if you can. Otherwise, the takeaway seems to be that Apple's Lockdown Mode is doing its job to ward off such a powerful exploit kit, and that can only be good news for those who enable it.Tags: Cybersecurity, SecurityThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are Still Missing, Here's Why
Apple this week unveiled seven products, ranging from the iPhone 17e to the MacBook Neo, but new Apple TV and HomePod mini models were not among them. Given that there have been rumors about the next-generation Apple TV and HomePod mini since all the way back in late 2024, some customers are wondering why the devices have yet to launch, and the answer likely relates to Siri. In September, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the next Apple TV and HomePod mini would both support the more personalized version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple originally aimed to release the revamped Siri last year, but it was pushed back, and the Apple TV and HomePod mini are likely delayed as a result. We suspect that Apple's long-rumored smart home hub is also held up by the Siri delay. In January, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year. Apple has yet to provide a more specific timeframe, but Gurman reported that the personalized Siri features are currently slated for either iOS 26.5 or iOS 27. iOS 26.5 will likely be released in May, following a beta testing period beginning in April. iOS 27 will debut at Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June, and that update should be released to all users in September. Accordingly, the new Apple TV and HomePod mini might not be announced until April to 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 was unveiled in October 2022, while the HomePod mini debuted in October 2020, so both devices are due for upgrades. Hopefully, the more personalized Siri arrives in the next few months, and the two devices follow soon after.Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod miniBuyer'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 forums

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MacBook Neo Expected to 'Reshape' Laptop Market in Major Way
Apple's new MacBook Neo could help the company grow notebook shipments by nearly 8% this year, even as the broader laptop market faces a hefty downturn, according to a new report from TrendForce. The research firm estimates global notebook shipments will fall 9.2% year-over-year in 2026, with the potential for steeper declines if demand stays weak. Rising memory and CPU costs are said to have pushed most PC makers to pare back their product lines and play it safe with inventory. Meanwhile, Apple is going in the other direction. Announced on Wednesday with a starting price of $599, the MacBook Neo is targeting the $500-$800 mainstream segment, which is typically dominated by Windows laptops and Chromebooks aimed at education and general productivity users. With an education discount, the Neo's starting price drops to $499 – well below the $1,000 floor that has defined the MacBook lineup for years. TrendForce projects Apple's notebook shipments will grow 7.7% in 2026, lifting macOS market share to 13.2%. The MacBook Neo alone could account for 4 to 5 million units shipped, according to the firm. That said, the report notes that a deciding factor may be how consumers respond to the 8GB memory configuration, given that Apple doesn't offer a RAM upgrade option. TrendForce credits Apple's in-house silicon and standardized product specs for Apple's ability to undercut competitors on price just as component costs are rising. Custom Apple silicon chips reduce dependence on external CPU suppliers, while Apple's concentrated memory configurations are said to give the company stronger bargaining power with suppliers. It's a different story for Windows OEMs, which tend to have more fragmented product portfolios that make cost management harder when component costs are volatile. The MacBook Neo launches next Wednesday, March 11. If it manages to gain traction in the entry-level segment, TrendForce claims it could reshape the pricing dynamics across the global notebook market.Tag: TrendForceThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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NotebookLM Now Creates Cinematic Video Overviews Out of Your Notes
Google's NotebookLM AI-based tool can now turn your research and notes into fully animated "cinematic" videos – an advancement over its original video overview feature that was introduced last year. Before now, video overviews were limited to generating slideshows of your research and writing, but the new Cinematic Video Overview feature uses Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Veo 3 models to generate animated visuals "to help you learn and engage with the topics you care about," says Google. Google says Gemini acts as a creative director, making hundreds of structural and stylistic decisions to best tell the story with your sources. It determines the best narrative, visual style and format, and also refines its own work to ensure consistency. Cinematic Video Overviews are available in English for Google AI Ultra subscribers over 18 on web and mobile, and there's a maximum of 20 overviews generated per day. The NotebookLM app is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.Tag: GoogleThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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MacBook Neo Compatible With New Studio Displays, But There's a Catch
Apple's low-cost MacBook Neo is compatible with the company's new Studio Displays, but its output will be scaled to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Apple confirmed the compatibility and output limitation with 9to5Mac. With pricing starting at $1,599, the regular Studio Display runs at 5K with a maximum 60Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the all-new 5K Studio Display XDR is capable of up to 120Hz and pricing starts at $3,299. Apple calls the refreshed Studio Display "the perfect companion to Mac," but if you were planning on using it as an external display for a new MacBook Neo, there are other options available at significantly lower price points – USB-C 4K displays from companies like LG, Dell, and Samsung. If you still have a Mac with an Intel chip inside, you're not going to want to pick up one of the new Studio Display or Studio Display XDR models either – neither model will work with an Intel-based Mac. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has two USB-C ports, but only one supports DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting an external display. To use an external monitor, it must be connected to the correct port—the USB 3 port located closest to the rear of the device. The laptop does not support Thunderbolt either, so you can't daisy-chain multiple monitors. The $599 MacBook Neo‌ and the new Studio Displays are available to pre-order now, with availability beginning on Wednesday, March 11. This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Music Rolling Out Disclosure Tags for AI-Made Songs
Apple Music is rolling out a new metadata system called Transparency Tags, which indicates when AI has been used in the creation of music hosted on the platform. According to Music Business Worldwide, Apple sent a newsletter to industry partners on Wednesday to explain how it will roll out the new set of metadata. The system covers four categories including artwork, track, composition (lyrics), and music video. Labels and distributors can begin applying the tags immediately. Apple describes the tags as optional for now, noting that if omitted, no AI is assumed. Apple said it defers to content providers to determine what qualifies as AI-generated, and that it treats the tags similarly to genres, credits, and other existing metadata. The company describes it as a first step toward industry-wide transparency around AI-generated music. Proper tagging of content is the first step in giving the music industry the data and tools needed to develop thoughtful policies around AI," Apple said in the newsletter, "and we believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting when the content they deliver is created using AI."Apple's approach contrasts with the route taken by competitors like Deezer, which has built its own detection infrastructure to independently identify AI-generated tracks, but it's not 100% accurate all the time. With Apple's tags, there isn't a visible enforcement or cross-verification process in place. Deezer reports that it receives over 60,000 fully AI-generated tracks per day, with synthetic content now accounting for roughly 39% of all music delivered to the platform. Up to 85% of streams on AI-generated music were fraudulent in 2025, according to Deezer's data. Apple's system is voluntary, or at least it is for now. Whether labels and distributors will actually use it remains to be seen.Tag: Apple MusicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – MTS
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 17, 20:00 - 21:30 PDTMar 12, 07:48 PDTScheduled - The MTS network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 17 March 2026 at 20:00 PDT until 17 March 2026 at 21:30 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to MTS Russia handsets.

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Cloudchamber Service Degradation
Mar 12, 14:22 UTCInvestigating - We are currently investigating an issue causing a degradation in the Cloudchamber service, which is preventing some customers from provisioning new containers. Our engineering team is focused on immediate mitigation and root cause resolution. The issue began at approximately 12:59 UTC.

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Elevated number of HTTP errors in PDX
Mar 12, 12:42 UTCResolved - Between 12:42 – 12:44 UTC on March 12, 2026, customers reaching Portland, OR (PDX) would have experienced an elevated number of HTTP errors due to a brief network disruption.

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Russia SMS Carrier Maintenance – MegaFon
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 16, 13:00 - 17:00 PDTMar 12, 04:02 PDTScheduled - The MegaFon network in Russia is conducting a planned maintenance from 16 March 2026 at 13:00 PDT until 16 March 2026 at 17:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to MegaFon Russia handsets.

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Twilio Flex TaskRouter – Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 23, 21:30 - 23:30 PDTMar 12, 02:53 PDTScheduled - We're conducting a planned maintenance in US1 between 9:30 PM and 11:30 PM Pacific Time on 23/03/2026. During the maintenance window, the Flex TaskRouter APIs may return 5xx errors for about 1 minute and a delay in reservation creation during the window. Our engineering team will actively monitor system performance throughout and after the maintenance to ensure stable operations.

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Planned Maintenance for Flex Insights Historical Reporting
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 21, 02:00 - 05:00 PDTMar 12, 02:30 PDTScheduled - The Flex Insights Historical Reporting dashboard visualization partner in the US will be conducting planned maintenance on Saturday, March 21st, 2026, at 02:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time. The maintenance window is expected to last up to 3 hours. During this time, Flex Insights Historical Reporting Dashboards will be unavailable and scheduled ETLs will be affected.

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United States and Canada Twilio SMS Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Apr 1, 20:00 PDT  -  Apr 2, 00:00 PDTMar 12, 00:29 PDTScheduled - Twilio is conducting a planned maintenance from 01 April 2026 at 20:00 PDT until 02 April 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 long codes, short codes and toll free numbers.

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US SMS Carrier Maintenance – Small US Carriers
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 17, 22:00 PDT  -  Mar 18, 00:00 PDTMar 11, 23:24 PDTScheduled - A subset of small networks in the US are conducting a planned maintenance from 17 March 2026 at 22:00 PDT until 18 March 2026 at 00:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent delays delivering SMS to small US carriers handsets when sending via short codes.

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YUL (Montréal) on 2026-03-12
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 12, 06:30 - 11:00 UTCMar 12, 06:14 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in YUL (Montréal) datacenter on 2026-03-12 between 06:30 and 11:00 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.

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Australia Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 19, 05:00 - 07:00 PDTMar 11, 18:58 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Australia is conducting a planned maintenance from 19 March 2026 at 05:00 PDT until 19 March 2026 at 07:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be Intermittent delays from and to Twilio Australia phone numbers.

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Australia Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 17, 05:00 - 07:00 PDTMar 11, 18:58 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Australia is conducting a planned maintenance from 17 March 2026 at 05:00 PDT until 17 March 2026 at 07:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be Intermittent delays from and to Twilio Australia phone numbers.

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On Call Engineers are Investigating
Mar 11, 16:37 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue with Twilio Accounts not reactivating after successfully adding funds to the Account. Our engineers have been alerted and are investigating. We will provide an update when we have more details.

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LHR (London) on 2026-03-12
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 12, 00:00 - 09:00 UTCMar 11, 23:06 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in LHR (London) datacenter on 2026-03-12 between 00:00 and 09:00 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.

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Australia Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 12, 06:00 - 08:00 PDTMar 11, 16:17 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Australia is conducting a planned maintenance from 12 March 2026 at 06:00 PDT until 12 March 2026 at 08:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be Intermittent delays from and to Twilio Australia phone numbers.We are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.

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Australia Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Mar 12, 05:00 - 07:00 PDTMar 11, 16:17 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Australia is conducting a planned maintenance from 12 March 2026 at 05:00 PDT until 12 March 2026 at 07:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be Intermittent delays from and to Twilio Australia phone numbers.We are aware of the short notice and are working with our Carrier Partners to provide earlier notification where possible.

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