This is Ternus’ biggest challenge, as he and Cook notch up key win
We learned yesterday that Apple was at risk of losing Mike Rockwell, the exec tasked with rescuing the new Siri project after Tim Cook lost confidence in former AI head John Giannandrea. A deal appears to have been struck to retain Rockwell long enough to deliver the Siri upgrade, and Ternus and Cook also notched up an even important retention win … more…

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The end of the iPad has begun
Macworld Later this year, the MacBook Pro is expected to undergo one of its most significant transformations ever with a touchscreen OLED display. At around the same time, the iPhone Fold will bring a tablet-sized screen to Apple’s handset for the first time. For years, Apple has resisted the temptation to replicate iPad features on other devices. The iPad Pro can basically mimic a MacBook thanks to its M-series chip, Magic Keyboard, and iPadOS 26, but none of Apple’s other devices can compete with the iPad’s capabilities. The iPhone is too small. The Mac is too keyboard-centric.  However, while Apple’s laptops and tablets have been largely evolving along parallel lines, they’re now seemingly en route to an intersection. The looming strategy shift suggests that Apple is thinking differently behind the scenes. iPads and MacBooks are actively borrowing hardware and software features from each other, and, at this pace, they could realistically become a single product within a few generations.  Similar to how the iPhone rendered the iPod redundant, Apple’s upcoming touchscreen products appear to be starting to dig the iPad’s grave. A new Pro in town Over the past few years, Apple’s tablets have gained laptop-like features, allowing users to use them as hybrid desktop machines. The iPad Pro now boasts the latest M5 Mac chip, a landscape-positioned front camera, and support for the Magic Keyboard, which includes a responsive trackpad. The next-gen model could even introduce an advanced thermal management system to sustain more demanding processing. It’s pretty clear that Apple wants the iPad to look and function like a laptop at this point. Meanwhile, the redesigned MacBook Pro will likely offer a slimmer shell and OLED touchscreen, bringing its form factor closer to an iPad Pro. That’s not to mention that Apple code has revealed in the past that the company is testing 5G-enabled MacBooks, so the overhauled model could potentially pack an in-house cellular modem, too. A touchscreen MacBook is one step closer to making the iPad Pro irrelevant.Foundry So, in terms of hardware, we’re looking at two very similar machines. But hardware isn’t what sets the MacBook and iPad apart; it’s software. iPadOS 26 already introduced a ton of macOS features, including a proper cursor, a menu bar, traffic light buttons, background tasks, more flexible app windows, etc. The operating system now also runs certain desktop-class apps from Apple and third parties, such as pro media editors.  Nevertheless, it’s ultimately a mobile OS that doesn’t support sideloading apps, Mac-only software, terminal commands, extensive file management, and so on. On the other hand, the touchscreen MacBook Pro will reportedly offer a touch-tuned UI that dynamically adapts to user input. The OS will seemingly offer larger buttons when users tap on the display and revert to the classic look when opting for point-and-click input.  In this case, macOS 27 could effectively bridge the software gap between Macs and iPads by offering the best of both worlds: advanced desktop features and a simpler layout for touch controls. The Neo is the new Air With the MacBook Neo selling for $599 (or $499 from the education storefront), Apple is enticing students and youngsters to opt for a Mac instead of an iPad as their first school device. For the same price, they can either buy an 11-inch iPad Air or a MacBook Neo. For getting work done, the choice is obvious. Kids who might have wanted an iPad Air will likely opt for a MacBook Neo now.Foundry If the touchscreen Pro is successful, it’s almost certain to expand to the Air and the Neo, making it even harder to justify buying an entry-level iPad. We’ve seen it before with the iPhone X, which started as a higher-end model alongside the iPhone 8, but quickly expanded to cheaper iPhones, such as the iPhone XR and iPhone 11, and eventually the cheapest iPhone 16e. The same goes for the iPad mini, which is in danger of being eclipsed by the iPhone Fold. For one, iPadOS is increasingly gaining desktop-like features that make more sense on larger screens. And those who want a small book-like tablet will surely opt for an iPhone Fold instead, which is expected to cost roughly what you’d pay for a mini and an iPhone Pro. A slow demise It’s likely that the Mac will be around longer than the iPad.Foundry Of course, Apple isn’t just going to suddenly stop making iPads next year. While most of Apple’s revenue comes from iPhones, Services, wearables, and Macs, the iPad continues to dominate the tablet market, and it’s not going anywhere just yet. The touchscreen MacBook Pro launching later this year or in early 2027 is just another step. It took Apple some 15 years to retire the iPod following the original iPhone’s debut, and it will likely take a similar path here. But the writing is on the wall. After more than 15 years, the iPad is finally facing some serious competition, not from third-party tablet makers but from Apple itself. And as we’ve seen before, that story never ends well.

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Why John Ternus is the right pick at the right time
Macworld After 15 years at the helm, Tim Cook is finally stepping down as Apple CEO. In his stead will be John Ternus, an Apple veteran who most recently served as Apple’s head hardware honcho and has been knocking around the Cupertino hallways for most of his adult life. If there’s anyone who knows Apple as well as Cook, it’s Ternus. The transition won’t happen straight away. WWDC26 in June will be Cook’s last Apple event, with Ternus taking over on September 1, just before the iPhone 18 Pro is revealed. That’s a pretty significant time for a changeover. What can we expect going forward? Tim Cook was effusive in his praise of Ternus, saying, “John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.” But what will the John Ternus era really look like? Will he be able to correct Apple’s mistakes and put the company on the path to further prosperity? And what will that future look like for you? I’ve gazed into the tea leaves, examined my fair share of entrails and read every palm I can find to see if I can work it all out. Here’s what I reckon we could be in for. Who is John Ternus? Until being named as incoming CEO, John Ternus was Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, and he’s overseen the physical products that have made Apple such a success. (Apple announced that Johny Srouji will succeed Ternus as hardware chief.) He first joined Apple in 2001 as part of the company’s product design team, with a particular focus on the much-loved Cinema Display. He graduated to Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and was then promoted to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering in 2021. As the hardware engineering lead, he at first handled Apple’s AirPods, iPad and Mac hardware divisions. iPhone hardware was added to that roster in 2020, with the Apple Watch being put under his purview in 2022. He also played a leading role in Apple’s transition away from Intel processors and towards Apple silicon, taking to the stage and conducting interviews to promote the new chips. And since the ouster of John Giannandrea as Apple’s AI chief in 2025, the company’s secret robotics projects have been moved under Ternus’s aegis, too. John Ternus played an instrumental role in the Apple silicon transition for the Mac.Apple Right now, he’s one of the youngest members of Apple’s senior leadership team. He’ll be 51 years old when he ascends to the Apple throne–almost the exact same age as Tim Cook was when he became CEO in 2011, 15 years ago. That tells you that in making this move, Apple is planning for the long haul. If all goes well for the company, Ternus could be in charge for the next decade and a half, if not more. The John Ternus era Tim Cook is many things, but unlike Steve Jobs, he’s never truly been a product person. Ternus is a hardware guy through and through, however, and this could help him fix some of Apple’s most pressing problems, such as its floundering Vision Pro and how it makes its forthcoming augmented reality glasses a rip-roaring success. On that topic, it’s worth noting that the first role Ternus took on after graduating from university was at Virtual Research Systems, a company focused on making virtual reality headsets and other devices. Could that give him uncommon insight into how Apple can set the beleaguered Vision Pro on the right path? Maybe, maybe not. Ternus left Virtual Research Systems to join Apple in 2001, and a huge amount has changed in the VR world since then. At the same time, Ternus was at Apple during the entire Vision Pro creation process and would have had a strong role in its development. If he were present in a leadership position during that time, would much change now that he’s set to head up the company? I wouldn’t rule it out. His nature as a product person could give him the ideas and vision to correct course now that he’s got more power concentrated in his hands. It could also be exactly what’s needed to steer the long-rumored Apple smartglasses to a successful launch. And there’s an encouraging tidbit from a New York Times profile of Ternus from earlier this year. There, it was noted that around 2018, Apple was thinking of adding a LiDAR Scanner to its iPhones but was concerned that the relatively expensive $40 component would eat into its profits. Ternus proposed that the part could be limited to the Pro models and excluded from the entry-level iPhones. But crucially, he didn’t do this purely because he was looking out for Apple’s bottom line. According to the Times’ profile, Ternus’s reasoning was that the Pro-level iPhones “tended to be purchased by Apple’s most loyal customers, who would be excited about new technology. Average consumers, on the other hand, probably wouldn’t care.” That’s telling because it reveals Ternus’s sure-footed understanding of Apple’s customers and what they do and do not care about. John Ternus seems to have an understanding of Apple customers and what they want in their products.Apple Apple is often accused of being so obsessed with being the best that it becomes too premium, making its devices unaffordable for most people. But if Ternus can take the insight demonstrated in the Times’ profile and apply it to the rest of Apple’s products going forward, we can perhaps hope for a company that remains strongly in touch with what its base wants. Ternus has also come out swinging in the right to repair debate, saying that Apple’s aim is to improve product durability rather than increase repairability, which can add points of failure and “unintended consequences that are worse for the consumer and worse for the planet.” That doesn’t mean repairability concerns will be thrown by the wayside — the MacBook Neo, after all, is one of the most repairable Apple devices in years. Yet with Ternus’s focus on device quality and longevity, the emphasis will likely be placed elsewhere. More than just hardware Ternus’s tenure as hardware chief hasn’t been perfect, of course. He pushed hard for infamous missteps like the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar and butterfly keyboard, both of which are now viewed as major missteps. There are unanswered questions, like whether he holds the same deep commitment to privacy, accessibility and environmental action as Tim Cook. It would be no surprise if he does, as it would be highly unusual for Cook to choose a successor who is not on board with these issues. But it’s still something of an unknown for now. Can John Ternus lead Apple into areas where the company has fallen short?Apple And for all of Ternus’s hardware expertise, many of Apple’s biggest problems lie in software, with AI and its Liquid Glass design being particularly front-of-mind. Yet even here, there are promising signs. Apple is a highly integrated company that controls both its hardware and software. You might be a “hardware person” like Ternus, but you’re not shut off in a quarantine, never to touch software. We can see that in Ternus’s own history. According to Bloomberg, Ternus was one of the strongest voices within Apple who pushed for the creation of iPadOS. Ternus argued that the iPad wouldn’t be able to live up to its potential and take advantage of its hardware capabilities if it did not have its own bespoke operating system. In other words, Ternus understood how hardware and software can help each other thrive. That’s the ideal mindset to have at a company like Apple. As well as that, one of Ternus’s extra roles is as “executive sponsor” for design. While that doesn’t mean he’s a designated design guru along the lines of Jony Ive or Alan Dye, it does mean that he’s tasked with handling design issues (both hardware and software) during executive meetings. So, while his focus has remained on hardware, he’s been dipping his toes into software issues for some time now. Interestingly, Apple’s most recent CEOs have all specialized in slightly different disciplines. For Jobs, it was design and marketing. For Cook, operations. And in Ternus’s case, it’s hardware. I know that’s something of a simplification, but it’ll be intriguing to see how Ternus’s background will impact the way he approaches his new job. With Tim Cook’s tenure coming to an end and John Ternus stepping further into the limelight, we could be on the cusp of major change at Apple. But given all we know about the company’s new CEO, from his passions and priorities to the way he is focused on hardware without excluding everything else, Apple looks to be in safe hands.

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Best Lightning Cables for iPhone 2026
Macworld Lightning ports were once ubiquitous across Apple’s iPhone and iPad line-up. Apple has switched fully to USB-C ports for its iPads, and from the iPhone 15 family onwards the Lightning port is now replaced by USB-C. But for iPhone versions 5 to 14, plus older AirPods cases and trusty Apple mice and keyboards, Lightning is the port you need a cable for. Cables get lost, “borrowed”, frayed and just broken, so despite its shift to Apple’s historical accessory drawer it remains a mainstay in a lot of homes and offices. Identify your device’s charging cable: on the left is USB-C and on the right Lightning.Simon Jary USB-C vs Lightning USB-C is now the universal cable connector, while Lightning is proprietary to older Apple products. USB-C is superior to Lightning in speed, power, and versatility. It can support up to 120Gbps data transfer and 240W charging, while Lightning is limited to 480Mbps (250 times slower) and between 20-30W. You can still fast-charge an iPhone or iPad using Lightning but the other end of the charging cable must be USB-C—so a “USB-C to Lightning” cable. iPhone 14 and older: Lightning iPhone 15 and later: USB-C iPads 2012-2021: Mostly Lightning AirPods before 2023: Mostly Lightning Apple Magic Mouse & Keyboard before 2024: Lightning For iPhones and older iPads that use the Lightning port, you can buy a cable that has a Lightning connector at one end and either full-size rectangular USB-A or the smaller, reversible USB-C connector at the other to plug into a charger. Using a USB-C charger rather than one with older USB-A allows for fast charging. Here we pick the best Lightning charging cables, including some that work with both older Lightning devices and newer USB-C models. Identify the charging end of the cable: on the left is USB-C and on the right old-type USB-A.Simon Jary If you still have a charger with a USB-A port, consider upgrading to a USB-C charger as iPhone fast-charging only works with a USB-C charger. The best setup for iPhones before the iPhone 15 is a USB-C charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable. Check out our tests for the best USB-C chargers for iPhone. As most Apple users will agree, one phone-charging cable is never enough. Whether it gets damaged through wear and tear, or it is misplaced, borrowed or stolen, you can guarantee it is never there when you need it. Third-party Apple-certified cables are more expensive than many online alternatives but we highly recommend you buy a certified cable, because cheap third-party alternatives have a nasty habit of suddenly deciding to stop working with your device. Moreover, they can be dangerous—here are some good reasons why you shouldn’t buy a cheap Lightning cable. There are exceptions, however, so a few of the cables recommended below have been tested by us but don’t have the MFi stamp of approval. These are clearly marked. If you’re forever buying new cables, you might also want to consider a magnetic wireless charger, with traditional docks, stands and pads as well as portable wireless chargers with built-in batteries now available. All current-generation iPhones support wireless charging, but do note that this is a slower process than charging via a cable (depending on your cable and adapter). MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers output at 7.5W while certified MagSafe and Qi2 chargers double that to 15W, and the latest Qi2 25W wireless chargers are nearly as fast as charging via a cable. iPhone 15/16/17 and USB-C iPad users should go to our roundup of the best USB-C charging cables for iPhone. Best Lightning cables for iPhone and iPad in 2026 Beats USB-C to Lightning Woven Cable – Best Lightning cable Pros Woven design Fast charge Choice of colors Price When Reviewed: $18.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $17.99 View Deal $18.99 View Deal $18.99 View Deal $18.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket USB type: USB-C Length: 0.8 inch (20cm), 5 feet (1.5m) MFi: Certified Fast charge: Yes Apple owns hip audio brand Beats but still allows it to make and sell better cables than it does. The Beats Woven Lightning Cable is a great example of this. It feels more robust in its braided form with a little half-inch sleeve at the connector end that should help keep it from bending too sharply, which is a primary cause of cables splitting over time. It’s also available in a range of three colors—black, white and red. Unless 3.3 feet (1 meter) is the perfect length for your Lightning cable, we think you’ll like the Apple-certified Beats USB-C to Lightning Woven Cable better. With the 5-foot (1.5m) version you get a length that’s half as long again for the same price as the Apple cable. And there’s a much shorter 0.8-inch (20cm) Beats Lightning Cable (Amazon) that isn’t any cheaper but will reduce cable clutter if you don’t need a long cable—for instance, when connecting to a power bank or nearby desktop charger. Sadly, the short Beats Lightning cable is in black only.

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Lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more is only $19.97
Macworld TL;DR: Classic Office apps, no subscriptions, just $19.97—perfect if you want productivity tools without the extra fluff. Modern software loves a subscription. Monthly fees, constant updates, features you didn’t ask for. It can feel like a lot. That’s what makes Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac such a refreshing throwback with modern updates—especially at just $19.97. This version gives you the essentials: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic. No fluff, no unnecessary extras—just the tools most people actually use on a daily basis. It’s like Office got streamlined in the best possible way. And because it’s a one-time purchase, you install it once, and you’re done. No recurring charges or surprise renewals. Performance-wise, it’s built to work smoothly on Mac, with support for Retina displays and full-screen workflows. Whether you’re drafting documents, building spreadsheets, or putting together presentations, everything feels familiar and reliable—just without the extra layers newer versions tend to pile on. It’s a great fit for anyone who wants solid productivity tools without overcomplicating things. Students, freelancers, small business owners—or honestly anyone tired of subscriptions—can get what they need here. Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for a one-time $19.97 (MSRP $229). Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Opera One now lets you boost audio up to 500%, gets improved PiP experience
Opera is rolling out an update to Opera One with several improvements to its in-browser video streaming and conferencing experience. Here are the details. more…

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Report: New Apple CEO's biggest challenge will be retiring leadership & regular churn
Industry-high employee retention levels and executives holding their posts for decades are apparently going to be significant hurdles for incoming Apple CEO John Ternus.John Ternus can't invent a time machine fast enough, so he's going to have to pick new Apple leadership, eventually. Image source: AppleThere's been a trend in tech reporting that attempts to make every employment change from the top down a calamitous occasion. Whether it's a dozen engineers out of thousands leaving or executives being poached with insane pay packages, every departure is treated as a serious problem.I'm still not entirely sure why. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This feature-packed iPad stylus costs less than $40
This is not just a stylus pen; it’s a workflow upgrade. Simply press the Pencil Pro Ultra's Smart Switch to bounce between iOS and Android. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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First MacBook Neo deal makes Apple’s budget laptop even more of a steal
It's already a great deal, but shaving a few bucks of the MacBook Neo makes it even more attractive to laptop buyers. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock review: All of the speed, all of the ports
The Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock is a fantastic port and storage expansion for new Mac users, and isn't pinched for bandwidth.Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDockWe get a lot of docks in for review. A lot.In many cases, we see docks with a lot of ports, but they connect over 10 gigabit per second USB-C. Worse, downstream ports are listed as providing that same 10 Gbit/sec. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple executive in charge of Siri revamp has considered stepping back, report says
Bloomberg reports that amid recent leadership changes at Apple, Mike Rockwell, who created the Vision Pro and now oversees efforts to revamp Siri, has considered leaving or reducing his role at the company. Here are the details. more…

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Latest 'Star Wars' movie cut unnecessary costs by using Apple Vision Pro
Director Jon Favreau says a specialized app let him better frame IMAX shots using a virtual theater environment in Apple Vision Pro. He cites it as one method to cut back on reshoots and reduce costs.Apple Vision Pro could become a useful tool in filmmakingFilmmaking has only become more and more expensive even as commercialized tools make the medium more accessible. It's easier than ever to grab a smartphone and shoot some footage, but reaching Hollywood calibre isn't so simple.In an interview conducted by The Town podcast during Cinemacon, Jon Favreau discussed ways that technology was helping reduce costs in filmmaking. One of the tools he mentioned was Apple Vision Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This detail about Apple’s CEO transition shows the company can still keep important secrets
While it had long been expected that John Turnus would succeed Tim Cook as Apple’s CEO, a key detail in the transition process shows that the company can still keep things under wraps when it counts. Here’s why. more…

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John Ternus promises Apple will ‘change the world once again’
In an all-hands meeting with Apple employees, John Ternus and Tim Cook express excitement about the incredible products to come. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Tim Cook reassures Apple employees: ‘I’m healthy’ and plans to serve as Executive Chairman for a long time
Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed concerns about his health and future role during an all-hands meeting with employees on Tuesday. Cook, who… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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WhatsApp testing multi-chat AI summaries for unread messages
Meta is expanding its in-app AI-powered summaries feature on WhatsApp to include unread context across multiple chats. Here are the details. more…

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Tech leaders, Trump, and more react to Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO
Apple announced its major leadership transition yesterday, with John Ternus officially set to take over as CEO from Tim Cook later this year. Following that announcement, tech leaders (and others) have taken to social media to congratulate Cook on the news. more…

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Apple TV executive behind ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ leaves for Amazon
Oliver Jones, an Apple TV executive who worked on shows including Masters of the Air and Disclaimer over the past six years, is leaving for Amazon MGM Studios. Here are the details. more…

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CarPlay just got even better with three exciting recent app updates
CarPlay has improved a lot lately, and following two major new app debuts a few weeks ago, there have been three more exciting app updates very recently. Here’s what’s new. more…

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Popular calorie tracker briefly pulled from App Store over IAP and billing violations
TechCrunch reports on why Apple removed Cal AI from the App Store over what it described as “multiple rule violations.” Here are the details. more…

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