5 ways the Camera in iOS 27 is more refined than ever
The Camera app in iOS 27 is chock-full of small but meaningful improvements. Last year’s design is refined upon to make it the best yet. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Best Pro Display XDR setups: Apple’s most magnificent monitor in the wild
"The world's best pro display," as Apple calls it, inspires envy. Behold the best Pro Display XDR setups in Cult of Mac's archive. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Apple may have hit pause on its most ambitious AirPods Pro upgrade
One of the biggest rumored AirPods Pro upgrades may be on hold, as Apple reportedly suspends development of the camera-equipped earbuds. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Siri AI is finally good, and Apple is going to with the AI wars
Apple is doing it again, it is coming late to the party. But it will eventually dominate AI because of how it thinks about users and about use cases where rivals consider only technical issues.Hopefully this is just a beta issue, but this Siri AI error comes up a lot.Even when testing the betas of Siri AI on the same or similar devices, everyone at AppleInsider is having different experiences. For instance, I found that in the first developer beta on both the Mac and the iPhone, Siri AI could be staggeringly irritating and sometimes no better than the old Siri. With the third developer beta of macOS Golden Gate, Siri AI would sometimes just abandon any request I make of it, but was always fine for everyone else.Across all of the betas, though, we are all finding that there are things Siri AI can do that are exceptional, and better than its rivals. Those irritations will surely be fixed before the public release, too. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Happy Independence Day!
Two hundred and fifty years ago, in the summer of 1776, a bold group of dreamers and patriots signed a document that would change the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Read more »

Apple Watch Series 12 may get new health sensor in its band
A leaker with a reasonable track record, except regarding the Apple Watch, claims that the Apple Watch Series 12 will feature a new health sensor, but only in its fluoroelastomer band.Apple Watch with the basic band - image credit: AppleApple Watch already tracks a huge number of different health metrics, but Apple has regularly been rumored to add even more sensors via a watch band. According to leaker Kosutami, the company is finally going to do it, although with one significant catch.[Censo-Wat]ch Series 12 gonna have a sensor on band, injection molded(to the silicon band, they hasn't yet figured out how to putting a sensor on band with other materials now.).— Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) July 3, 2026 Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

All of the best 4th of July deals on Apple gear, accessories, OLED TVs, and much more
The 2026 4th of July weekend is upon us and there are loads of notable deals up for grabs. Coming fresh of the Prime Day festivities and major price hikes, the Apple deals aren’t quite as extensive as usual but you can still land up to all-time low pricing on AirTag 2, among others. Those deals also join up to $1,000 off LG OLED TVs, e-bikes, power stations, apparel, and some last-minute 4th of July cookout gear too. 

Read more »

espresso Pro 4K Touch portable monitor review: Brilliant 4K screen, genius magnetic stand
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 4K (3840 x 2160 at 60Hz) Excellent color matching Touchscreen Fantastic flexible magnetic stand Lightweight   Cons Premium price Laptop battery drain Our Verdict The pick of the espresso range of portable monitors is the Pro touchscreen, a 4K rarity among portable screens but at a premium price. if you can afford it and fit it in your backpack, stretch for the 17.3-inch but the 15.6-inch Pro is more compact and lighter. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$799 Best Prices Today: espresso Pro 17 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The espresso Pro 17 Touch is a premium 17.3-inch 4K portable monitor designed to give MacBook users a larger, colour-accurate second screen wherever they work. It’s ideal for creatives, developers and professionals who need extra workspace, while the ingenious magnetic Stand+ delivers unmatched portability, flexibility and ergonomic positioning. Who is it for? Creative professionals, developers, engineers and executives who need a large, high-quality portable display for productivity or colour-sensitive work. Who shouldn’t buy it? If you just need a needs a simple second screen, the cheaper espresso Lite 15 (reviewed separately) offers better value for everyday productivity, while travellers may prefer the lighter Pro 15. A second screen to expand your MacBook’s workspace allows you to multitask more efficiently without the frustration of constant tab jumping, or searching for hidden windows even on a 16-inch MacBook Pro. You get more space for viewing open windows at the same time—for instance, for supporting documents or apps while you’re on a video call or giving a presentation. Blessed with one or more displays, your laptop is transformed into a real alternative to a desktop computer. That’s fine in a dedicated office but if you need to move around or even just hide the whole setup away when not in use, you should look for a properly portable display. We’ve reviewed several of the best portable displays, and we were mighty impressed by the lightweight and clever espresso range, which starts with the 15.6-inch espresso Lite 15 but hits its peak with the 17.3-inch 4K touchscreen expresso Pro 17. If the $799 / £649 price puts you off, keep reading as you get a lot for your money: from the top-end screen to the clever magnetic Stand+, touchscreen functionality and a bunch of smart software tools. Creatives, executives, developers and engineers will be most interested in the Pro 17 (a 15.6-inch Pro with touch is also available) with its 4K resolution and multi-touch functionality. If you just want a super-portable second screen, read our review of the HD-screen 15 Lite that’s the right mix of features and price in the most portable design of the range. Simon Jary How portable is it really? The entire espresso range delivers on thinness and weight. The Pro 17 measures 15.7 x 9.7 x 0.35 inches (398 x 246 x 9mm) and weighs 1.55lbs (1.1kg). It’s actually thinner than the 15 Lite that is 0.37 inches (9.5mm) thick, although only a pedant would make a big deal of that. More worthy of note is the 0.2-inch (5.5mm) thinness of the non-Lite non-touch espresso 15. If you plan to be carrying your second screen around a lot, you might consider weight and size against the benefits of a larger screen. The anodized aluminum Pro models weigh more than the plastic-build Lite 15, which is a noticeable 0.4kg lighter than the Pro 17. The sweet spot is the Pro 15 that’s only 100g heavier than the Lite 15 and the same basic dimensions. A pro for the Pro is the smaller bezel around the screen: around 6.4mm on the sides and top compared to the Lite’s 9.5mm. The Pro 15 measures 14.2 x 8.9 x 0.35 inches (360 x 225 x 9mm) and weighs 1.76lbs (0.8kg). The margins are fine indeed. It doesn’t have to be used as a portable monitor. It’s good enough to be your permanently placed second or third screen. Each espresso monitor has a dedicated carry case available as an accessory.Simon Jary Even the heaviest (Pro 17) feels light in the hand, although you should keep all of them in their respective nylon cases when carrying them around. The cases include a section for the stand, but will set you back another $99/£89. The Pro 17 screen plus Stand+ Pro weighs in at 1.9kg combined, which is 0.25kg lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Pro 15 plus Stand+ weighs 1.4kg, less than the 15-inch MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro. Simon Jary What makes the Stand+ better than other portable monitor stands? No offense to the great screens, but the neat espresso Stand+ is the real star of the show. It’s flexible enough to sit the screen at table height or raise it up to 1.45 feet (445mm), measuring to the top of the screen. A middle ground of 1.07 feet (325mm) is also possible. At its highest you can raise it comfortably and sturdily above the open screen of your MacBook—we tested with a 14-inch MacBook Pro. Simon Jary Another clever feature of the Stand+ is its simple magnetic attachment to the back of the espresso screen—no screws or VESA mount required. The stand packs flat for travel. The Pro 17 comes with the heavier Stand+ Pro, which features a bigger magnet for the larger screen essentially. It also includes a purple segment on the back that you can tilt down for more touchscreen or pen related tasks. The company tells me that a lot of musicians use this when they plug their dials and mixing consoles into it. Espresso If you don’t want to lug the stand from A to B, you can buy an extra one for the office for $69/£69 (Stand+ Pro) or $99/£79 (Stand+ Pro) so it’s there waiting for you, nicely folded up in a desk drawer. How easy is it to setup? The espresso displays show their Apple sympathies by connecting via USB-C, compatible with the MacBook’s Thunderbolt. All work with Macs, iPad (USB-C), and iPhone (15 and later). Note that they will only mirror what is on the iPhone’s screen but can extend the display of a Mac or iPad. While the connection is plug and play, it’s recommended you download dedicated espressoFlow software—especially for the touchscreen Pro models. Simon Jary Another way the espresso displays stand out from the crowd are the extras within espressoFlow, such as workspace management and settings. These include Glide, which is a simple way for you to arrange and auto-rotate the screens without having to go into the Mac’s Displays Settings–although that works too. You can set the screens in either Landscape or Portrait orientations, which isn’t possible with some other portable displays. The customizable Snap feature makes switching between tasks easier with a simple click of keystroke. The touch screens also gain a set of features called Jot that works with Mac apps such as Google Slides, Apple Keynote and Notes, Microsoft PowerPoint and OneNote, and Evernote. It’s an innovative drawing/writing app that allows you to quickly capture, markup and share ideas, take notes, communicate visually, and share feedback and markups on projects.  Magic Jot lets you drop your notes and feedback into a project, document or template. Blank Jot is an on-demand notepad for creativity, notes and feedback. Screen Jot almost instantly shares screenshots and markup with colleagues. Display specs While it’s a little larger in physical size, we like the extra screen real estate offered by the Pro 17, although the price jumps up significantly. But it’s not all about physical size. The espresso Pro is a 16:9 LCD panel, with a 60Hz refresh rate. While the non-Pro screens are HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), the Pro screens are 4K UHD (3840 x 2160)—the minimum spec for creative professionals. The screens differ in terms of brightness, with the Pro 15 at 550 nits and the Pro 17 at 450. As with other portable displays, brightness is not a strong point, and you can see the difference when it’s next to an open MacBook or iPad. However, we found it perfectly acceptable in use during our testing—especially when plugged into a wall charger rather than taking power from the laptop. In terms of color gamut, the Pro 17 rates as extremely color-accurate at 99.6% DCI-P3, with 100% Adobe RGB for the Pro 15 (both 1.07 billion colors). A DeltaE score measures the difference between the intended colour and the colour the monitor actually displays. The espresso Pro has a DeltaE of 2, which is generally regarded as excellent. At this level, colour differences are difficult to detect in normal use and are typically only noticeable on close inspection. Simon Jary Is the touchscreen worth paying extra for? The Pro models come with plug-and-play touchscreen functions, from moving windows around with your finger or scrolling without having to reach for your mouse. It’s not as touch capable as the iPad but matches most basic touch screens in terms of functionality. For finer and more accurate input control you’ll need the 3oz (85g) espressoPen ($89/£89) that allows for basic notetaking, sketching, and markups with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt functionality and palm rejection. It’s not as precise as a dedicated professional art pen but handles the basics well. I’m no artist so can’t vouch for exactly how it differs to other touchscreens at the finer level, but it certainly works well for basic touch controls and is much easier to set-up than other touchscreen monitors I’ve tested. Simon Jary Ports and power: How much battery does it use? The espresso monitors have two identical USB-C ports. In the box espresso includes a distinctive purple cable that is good for both data and power. As we explain in more detail in our roundup of the best USB-C cables, some cables are good for charging and others for data—some, like the espresso USB-C cable are adept at both. The monitors are bus-powered, meaning they can draw power directly from the connected computer. The Pro 17 consumes up to 18W at its maximum 450-nit brightness, while the Pro 15 uses around 13W, so extended use will noticeably reduce your MacBook’s battery life. For longer sessions, you’ll want to power either the monitor or your laptop separately. Espresso sells its matching magnetic espressoCharge power bank, which packs a 32,000mAh (118.4Wh) battery, attaches beneath the Stand+, and can keep the display running for hours for $199 / £89 and attaches magnetically under the stand’s base. A cheaper v2 of the charger (with 26000mAh battery) is selling in the US for $129. If the screen is receiving power from a separate charger it can passthrough up to 100W of power to the laptop. Some portable displays include a built-in battery so you can use them longer on the go, but this adds considerable weight to the monitor. Staying light and giving you flexibility to draw power from the laptop or connect to a charger via the USB-C port offers you flexibility. None of the espresso monitors ship with a charger. See our comparison reviews of the best Mac laptop chargers for options or consider a budget iPhone charger that will do just as well although not offer much in the way of passthrough power to the MacBook. If you want to work with the MacBook’s lid closed, you’ll need a separate power connection to the laptop. With its Glide software you can easily ensure that the display connects with the Mac in the correct arrangement and orientation.Simon Jary Is it worth the premium price? The espresso Pro 15 is priced at $699 / £584, with the Pro 17 at $799 / £649 direct from espresso. That’s a sizeable jump from the entry-level Lite 15 at $249 / £219, but you gain the aluminum body plus 4K resolution and superior color performance. You can also find the Pro 15 and Pro 17 available from Amazon. Check out our other reviews of the best portable displays for Mac for comparisons. There are cheaper alternatives to the 4K 17-inch espresso Pro—for example this same-size 4K portable from UPerfect for under $500—but you’ll need to buy a better VESA mounted stand to match the espresso Stand+ and we haven’t tested one that also offers touch functionality or espresso’s other software goodies. You are paying a premium price but getting a premium product. As an Apple user, this is something you should be used to. Of course, you can add much larger displays—see our roundup of the best monitors for Mac—but if you are often travelling with it you’ll certainly need the portability. Should you buy the espresso Pro 17 portable display? It’s clear that the hardware and software designers get the Apple user and have created super-slim portable monitors that come alive when magnetically attached to the super-adjustable sturdy Stand+. The pick of the range is the Pro 17 touchscreen, a 4K rarity among portable screens. You’ll pay for the superior specs and features but be rewarded with a fine MacBook display that should increase your daily productivity and work flexibility.

Read more »

espresso Lite 15 review: Great value, portable monitor with superb stand
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) Lightweight   Fantastic flexible magnetic stand Color choices Affordable Cons Not ideal for color-critical work Protective case is expensive Our Verdict It’s a great fit for users of the MacBook Neo but even MacBook Pro users will appreciate the benefits of this slim second screen that can be tucked into your backpack along with your laptop as you move between rooms or offices. The Lite 15 pushes itself into the top rank of portable monitors with its excellent magnetic Stand+. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$249 Best Prices Today: espresso Lite 15 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? The espresso Lite 15 is the entry-level and best-value portable monitor in Espresso’s range, adding a lightweight 15.6-inch Full HD second screen to your laptop. Designed for productivity rather than color-critical creative work, its biggest advantage is the superb magnetic Stand+, which provides unmatched flexibility and ergonomic positioning wherever you work. Who is it for? MacBook users who want an affordable, lightweight second screen for spreadsheets, multitasking, office work, studying and travel. Who shouldn’t buy it? Photographers, video editors and designers who need 4K resolution, touchscreen features or color-critical accuracy should choose an espresso Pro 4K Touch model instead (reviewed separately) . Even the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s display can feel cramped when you’re juggling large spreadsheets or multiple windows. A portable second screen solves that problem, but many external displays are too bulky to travel with comfortably. The lightweight Espresso Lite 15 is the entry-level and best-value model in Espresso’s portable monitor range. Designed for productivity rather than color-critical creative work, it pairs a sharp Full HD display with the company’s outstanding magnetic Stand+, which offers class-leading flexibility and ergonomic positioning. Prices start at $249 / £219 for the 15.6-inch Lite 15, rising to $799 / £649 for the flagship 17.3-inch 4K Espresso Pro 17 Touch. We’ve reviewed the Pro 17 separately; here we’re testing whether the more affordable Lite 15 delivers the features most people actually need. Simon Jary Screen size and specs: Is Full HD enough? While creatives and people with spare cash will be drawn to the espresso Pro’s 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 at 60Hz), the Lite’s 1080p HD (1920 x 1080 at 60Hz) offers a lot at less than half the price. If you don’t need the Pro’s relatively basic touch functions or the company’s clever touch software tools, a screen larger than any MacBook or professional color matching, the Lite 15 boasts a lot of what makes every espresso portable monitor stand out from the crowd. The HD is sharp enough for most users who don’t need the 4K’s sharpness and crystal-clear detail. And the Lite 15 has the same 60Hz refresh rate as the top-end Pro. The screens differ in terms of brightness, with the Lite 15 at 400 nits, which is higher than the more expensive espresso 15 at 300 nits—making the Lite look the better choice if you are often fighting intense ambient light in bright rooms. In a sunlit room, a standard 200 to 300-nit monitor can look dim and washed out. Those extra nits punch through ambient light, preventing washed-out blacks and maintaining vivid colors. Even the Pro 17 maxes at 450 (the Pro 15 at 550) so the Lite 15’s 400 nits is impressive. The HD screens are great for web browsing and productivity apps, and are acceptable for streaming, too—but maybe not for creative applications where the Pro’s 4K UHD resolution comes into its own. All the non-Pro models are rated at 100% sRGB (16.8 million colors), which helps them stand out from cheaper portable displays. The monitors are available in five colors, shown below, which is another draw for this cute second screen. Espresso How portable is the Lite 15? You’re considering an espresso display because of its portability and these really do deliver on thinness and weight. The 15 Lite measures 14.3 x 8.6 x 0.37 inches (364 x 218 x 9.5mm) and weighs just 1.55lbs (0.7kg) without its stand. If you have a digital measure or a very good eye and precise ruler, it’s 0.05 inches (0.5mm) thicker than the Pro 17 but you won’t notice it. That’s one of the small compromises of the Lite. Its plastic body is lighter than the non-Lite models’ anodised aluminum but the bezels (the physical border or frame that surrounds the display area of a monitor) are wider: 9.5mm at the sides and 11.5mm at top and bottom, compared to the 15’s  6.45mm all round except for 22.5mm at the bottom. It might be made of plastic, but it doesn’t look cheap. It looks as premium as the Pro range and also comes in a range of colors—White, Black, Orange, Mint, and Purple—in comparison to the standard Black on all other models. You can spend an extra $50/£40 to get the non-Lite (and non-touch) espresso 15, which is a little less long and noticeably thinner (5.3mm vs 9.5mm) but a little wider at 256mm vs 218mm. The non-Lite 15 is a little heavier at 1.68lbs (0.77kg)—again without the stand. The Pro 15 measures 14.2 x 8.9 x 0.35 inches (360 x 225 x 9mm) and weighs 1.76lbs (0.8kg). The margins are fine but the slimmest of them all is the non-Lite 15. You can buy a protective carry case that includes a section at the back for the stand, but will set you back another $89/£89, which looks steep at more than a third of the cost of the monitor plus stand. You can buy a cheaper laptop sleeve to protect the screen during transport; check out our favorites in the best MacBook sleeve feature. As a comparison, the Plugable 15.6-inch USB-C Portable Display (USBC-PDMON) measures 14.2 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches (36 x 22 x 1.1cm) and weighs 1.85lbs (0.84kg) with its stand or 1.35lbs (0.62kg) without. At 1.3lbs (0.58kg) on its own the espresso’s Stand+ adds more weight than those of most portable displays but we think it’s worth the extra heft. Also, a flimsy lightweight stand will lack the robust sturdiness of the Stand+. Simon Jary Is the Stand+ worth paying for? While the non-Lite espresso portable monitors might boast of their aluminum body and smaller bezels, they are all at the same level when it comes to the included Stand+. And it’s a high level indeed—in fact literally so. It can raise the monitor up to 1.45 feet (445mm), measuring to the top of the screen. Or you can rest it with the bottom of the screen touching the table, and, in between, 1.07 feet (325mm) is also possible. At its highest you can raise it comfortably and sturdily above the open screen of your MacBook—we tested with a 14-inch MacBook Pro. The Stand+ clamps onto the back of the screen via simple but strong magnets. It’s a neat solution and much less hassle than screwing into a VESA mount. It makes taking the monitor and stand apart a matter of seconds in pulling it firmly away. It packs flat for travel or for packing away out of sight when not in use, or you can keep it on the monitor if you buy the special espresso Case. It’s worth downloading the free espressoFlow software that guides you through the Mac settings that require some clicking.Simon Jary How easy is it to setup? While some portable displays rely on old-style mini-HDMI connections, the espresso displays connect via USB-C—the same ports as you find on the MacBook Neo and of course compatible with the MacBook Air and Pro’s Thunderbolt—to laptops, tablets, phones, or computers that support USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode. They will work with any Mac released since 2017. The downloadable espressoFlow software is especially useful for the touchscreen Pro models but offers a neat tool for all. Glide is a simple way for you to arrange and auto-rotate the screens without having to go into the Mac’s Displays Settings–although that works too. Simon Jary You can set the screens in either Landscape or Portrait orientations, which isn’t possible with some other portable displays. The customizable Snap feature makes switching between tasks easier with a simple click of keystroke. Will it drain your MacBook’s battery? The Lite 15’s two USB-C ports are situated in the middle of one of its sides, and can be used interchangeably. Each screen comes with a distinctive purple cable that is good for both data and power. As we note in our roundup of the best USB-C cables, not all are created equal so it’s important to stick to what espresso ships with. A capable USB-C or Thunderbolt cable should also work if you someone loves purple cables too much to give it back to you. Simon Jary You don’t need to connect the bus-powered espresso displays to a power source as they can take power from your MacBook. On the other hand, if the screen is receiving power from a charger it can passthrough power to the laptop. While some bus-powered portable monitors can drain a laptop’s battery quite fast (the Pro 17 is especially hungry at 18W), the Lite 15 sucks only 5W at full brightness. That makes it a great fit with the MacBook Neo but any MacBook will last longer with such an efficient screen connected. espresso sells its own battery pack, the matching magnetic espressoCharge that holds a high-capacity 32000mAh (118.4Wh) that will probably last a couple of days but costs $199/£89. You could save money and have a more flexible power supply by picking a decent USB-C charger to supply power direct and passthrough excess charge to the laptop. If you want to work with the MacBook’s lid closed, you’ll need a separate power connection to the laptop. You can connect more than one display, depending on the M-series chip inside your MacBook. The Neo can take just one unless you add in a DisplayLink hub or dock.Simon Jary Price: How does it compare with rivals? The 15.6-inch espresso range of portable monitors is priced like this: espresso Lite 15 (HD): $249 / £219 espresso 15 (HD): $299 / £259 espresso 15 Touch (HD): $499 / £439 espresso Pro 15 (4K): $699 / £699 (The espresso Pro 17 (4K) is for deeper pockets at $799 / £649.) Four colors of espresso Lite 15 are also available at Amazon. Check out our other reviews of the best portable displays for Mac for comparisons. The 15.6-inch Plugable Portable Monitor costs $239.95, a little cheaper than the Lite 15 but not by much. The Lite 15 is brighter and comes with a more flexible stand than the Plugable, although it weighs more as a result. The 16-inch Mobile Pixels Float 2 Pro boasts a 2.5K screen compared to the Lite 15’s 2K but is more expensive at $299, although we have seen it on offer for $215. It too rises on a stand behind the MacBook but is thicker and heavier. We praised this alternative as thin when we reviewed it so we’re not calling it thick—it just looks so compared to the espresso Lite 15. There are plenty of cheaper portable monitors—such as the decent super-budget MSI Pro MP165 that costs under $100—but they are mostly no match for the espresso in terms of color accuracy or brightness, or indeed stand flexibility. These cheapies are good for shoving a few open windows onto but not for finer work. Of course, you can add much larger displays—see our roundup of the best monitors for Mac—but few will be as portable unless you drive everywhere and have a very understanding local coffee shop. Should you buy the espresso Lite 15? It’s a great fit for users of the MacBook Neo but even MacBook Pro users will appreciate the benefits of a second screen that can be tucked into your backpack along with your laptop as you move between rooms or offices. This slim portable monitor pushes itself into the top rank of portable monitors with its excellent magnetic Stand+. Set it up to an ergonomic position and you’ll thank yourself for choosing a display with this level of flexibility.

Read more »

AirPods with Cameras won't be coming any time soon after all
A leaker with a fair but short track record, claims that Apple has suspended work on the expected AirPods with cameras.Apple's current AirPods ProBack in February 2026, leaker Kosutami claimed that AirPods with cameras were coming, and that they would stay the same price as current models. Now the same leaker is back saying that Apple has suspended the whole idea.That's literally all this routinely brief leaker says. Reposting a previous claim about the device from June 2026 that said just "case concluded," Kosutami has now responded with the single word "Suspended." Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Ring toss: Why the Apple Watch activity goals need an update
Macworld Right from the start, the Apple Watch eschewed the popularly recommended target of clocking 10,000 steps a day — and for good reason. For one thing, the 10,000 steps goal is entirely arbitrary: there’s no science behind it, and it was first chosen largely because it’s an easy number to remember. The thought was that it would make a good round number that could motivate people to become more active. But as Apple’s former vice president of fitness technologies Jay Blahnik said back in 2017, most people walk around 2,500 to 3,500 steps a day.  That’s where the rings come in. Apple’s Fitness app measures your daily progress using three metrics: movement, exercise and standing. These are represented as rings: the more progress you make towards each daily objective, the closer each ring comes to being closed. But a decade after Apple Watch blew up the 10,000 step objective , are rings still the best way to understand your current health and fitness? We asked the experts what they had to say, from fitness app developers to academics studying the impact of wearable tech on human health. And what we learned might end up surprising you. A good starting point Kriss Smolka has always loved the Apple Watch. The iOS developer and creator of wellbeing apps such as FitnessView and WaterMinder told Macworld that he has used the Apple Watch “since day one.” Despite trying other fitness devices, Smolka explained that “none was up to Apple’s quality.” Part of that loyalty comes down to the Watch’s ring system, Smolka contends. He describes it as his “partner in keeping me accountable” and says its metrics are “very useful in my personal life.” Apple gamified exercise with its system of visual daily goals—but are they still the best way to measure activity?Foundry Smolka adds that that feeling extends to the users of his apps, too. “We receive feedback from our FitnessView app that [people] use the ring calendar to view monthly progress,” he told us. “People love seeing closed rings.” That resonates with researchers. According to Yang Wei, Professor of Wearable Technology at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., the idea of “closing your rings” is a good one. As Wei put it, Apple’s approach works “because it turns behavior change into a simple daily goal system and gives frequent feedback about progress.” However, that might not be true in all cases. Wei told us that while Apple’s ring system works for many people, that won’t be true for everyone. “People respond differently, as those already active may not need it,” Wei argued. “Those strongly disengaged might ignore it, but people in the middle often benefit most from nudges and clear targets.” Wei has the data to back up his assertions. “From an evidence perspective,” he says, “wearables and activity trackers can increase physical activity on average but typically with modest-to-moderate effects and wide variation by person and context. One major review reported effects roughly equivalent to [approximately] 1,800 extra steps [per] day and [approximately] 40 minutes [per] day more walking on average, plus small improvements in weight and fitness.” While it might not change your world completely, a feature like the Apple Watch rings can help to push people in the right direction. Because as Wei points out, while self-motivation matters, “it is rarely sufficient on its own.” Indeed, even something like an on-device motivator such as the ‘close your rings’ system might not be enough. “Wearables tend to be more effective when combined with additional components like goal setting, coaching, counseling or structured prompts, rather than being used alone,” Wei contends, adding that, “Most people do better with a support system that makes the desired behavior easier and more rewarding.” That can mean personalized goals, accountability, social motivation and reducing friction through making exercise the ‘default.’ In other words, closing your rings is a good starting point for a lot of people, but it works best as part of a broader package of fitness work and support. The Apple Watch’s Activity Rings have become a centerpiece of the fitness tracker’s utility.Foundry Sound design Like everything Apple does, design has played a key role in the use of rings to quantify your day on the Apple Watch. As Blahnik described, “Typical activity trackers also measure metrics but they tend to do them in numbers. We’ve built our entire design around a visual. Well, what’s interesting about a visual is numbers continue to get bigger. No matter how big they are, they can always be bigger. But a ring is either closed or not closed. So we’ve found there’s a real addictive behavior in making sure that final ring gets closed.” For Brandon Ballinger, co-founder of heart wellness company Empirical Health, separating health goals into three rings makes sense; after all, “Health is multidimensional, so the concept of a multidimensional score is sound,” he told us. However, Ballinger noted that “the specific visual representation matters less than the specific dimensions you choose.” To illustrate the point, Ballinger explains that Empirical Health displays your progress as rainbows rather than rings. The Apple Watch’s Activity Rings could use a modern update.Foundry Still, Ballinger believes Apple could improve the data it presents by replacing calories, exercise minutes and stand hours with nutrition, exercise and sleep. If we were to restrict the choices purely to physical activity, Apple could choose “total minutes of cardiovascular activity, minutes spent in zone five (high intensity cardio), and strength,” which all have strong support in the medical literature, Ballinger adds. But Apple could take things even further, Wei says, by allowing users to set a custom ring with their own choice of metric. Or the company could “Shift emphasis from daily streaks to weekly consistency,” which is “often more realistic and less guilt-inducing.” And while calories make for an “intuitive” metric, Wei says they can be “noisy and sometimes demotivating.” A better alternative might be frequency or consistency of activity. Food for thought Ultimately, all three experts we spoke to believed that Apple’s idea of closing your rings is a good one, albeit one where improvements can be made. For Ballinger, whose own app is centered on strengthening users’ heart health, a greater focus on nutrition would go a long way to improving people’s health and tackling heart disease. Wei, meanwhile, says that closing your rings is a good motivator for people who are ready for change, but might not be the most effective way to get healthier if you’re totally disengaged from your own wellbeing. Still, closing your rings provides the incentive to get up and move for millions of people around the world. As Smolka put it, the Apple Watch is “a great tool and motivator to stay healthy.” Much of that is thanks to its now-iconic ring design.  But while Wei feels that while Apple’s selection of metrics is good, “it can be improved.” While “the three rings target three meaningful drivers of health,” other options would be “strength, mobility, recovery, sleep, and long-term sustainability.”

Read more »

9to5Mac Daily: July 3, 2026 – Apple Creator Studio updates, more
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily.

Read more »

Leaker Jon Prosser denies Apple's charges and blames everything on his co-defendant
Jon Prosser has formally responded to Apple's lawsuit over alleged iOS leaks, claiming that he is entirely innocent and that colleague Michael Ramacciotti is solely responsible for any alleged trade secret theft.Jon Prosser in a still from one of his Front Page Tech videos — image credit: ProsserApple's now year-long case against Prosser had initially seen the YouTuber repeatedly ignoring court deadlines. He began responding in April 2026, and his lawyers have now formally filed his rebuttal to Apple's accusations that he and Ramacciotti conspired to steal trade secrets from Apple employee Ethan Lipnik."Ramacciotti's is [sic] responsible for all harm caused to Prosser and should indemnify him for all harm caused," says the filing. "Ramacciotti's act of displaying the features was not induced by Prosser and, as such, Ramacciotti is completely responsible for the disclosure of Apple's alleged trade secrets, if any." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Mophie StealthCharge 4-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand review: Smart solution to wireless charging’s heat problem
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 3-in-1 for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods 60W retractable USB-C cable (4-in-1) Fast 25W for iPhone (16 and later) Apple Watch fast charge Adjustable viewing angles Includes 40W/100W charger Cons Expensive compared with rivals 25W limited to iPhone 16+ Our Verdict Mophie’s clever StealthCharge technology enables this multi-device charger to deliver a cooler, faster, and quieter charging experience than found in most other Apple device chargers. The retractable cable in the 4-in-1 model means you shouldn’t need another charger even for your MacBook. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$179.95 Best Prices Today: Mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand Retailer Price $179.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket What is it? Mophie’s StealthCharge is a new wireless charging design that moves heat-generating electronics from the charging pad into the stand’s base, keeping your iPhone cooler while maintaining full charging speeds. Unlike most MagSafe chargers, it reduces heat without noisy cooling fans, resulting in faster, quieter and more consistent wireless charging. Who is it for? Apple users wanting fast, cooler multi-device charging with minimal desk clutter, especially iPhone 16 owners and anyone charging a MacBook too. Mophie’s StealthCharge is a new wireless charging design that moves heat-generating electronics from the charging pad into the stand’s base, keeping your iPhone cooler while maintaining full charging speeds. Unlike most MagSafe chargers, it reduces heat without noisy cooling fans, resulting in faster, quieter and more consistent wireless charging. Wireless charging is so fast these days that it’s catching up with wired cable charging. The only thing holding wireless charging back from truly catching up with wired cable power is the inefficiency of heat that can force the device being charged to slow the charger down when it gets too hot for the phone’s good. Mophie, a pioneer in phone charging since the beginning, has come up with a novel solution that’s so simple it seems strange that it’s not commonplace. It calls its new technology StealthCharge, and its first products are a range of multi-device chargers: the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Wireless Charge Stands and another folding travel charger called Roam. Why wireless charging usually generates heat Wireless charging is convenient because it eliminates the need to find the right cable when your phone needs a boost of power. It has improved rapidly with Apple’s MagSafe technology that corrected charging coil misalignment between phone and charger. MagSafe and its third-party Qi2 and Qi 2.2 offspring have progressed the coil alignment to reduce the magnetic field not transferring energy (electromagnetic induction) efficiently, which otherwise can generate heat. Temperature is a battery’s nemesis. To protect its battery, your phone’s thermal management system automatically throttles charging speeds when the heat risks damaging it. This throttling slows down charging. To reduce this heat problem and maintain a steady charge, some manufacturers install fans near the charging pads, but this can create unwanted noise as the fans struggle to reduce the heat. Simon Jary How StealthCharge reduces heat Mophie’s solution is clever because, like many of the best challenge beaters, it’s simple. I’m sure the engineering isn’t simple, but the idea is. StealthCharge moves the hottest components from the charging pad itself (in direct contact with the phone) to the product’s base. In effect, the base now serves as a heat sink to dissipate heat more efficiently. The power is then sent to the charging pad via the stand’s stem. StealthCharge relocates the following components: Integrated controller circuitry, including the 25W Qi2.2 controller integrated circuit Power Delivery (PD) negotiation integrated circuit DC-to-DC buck-boost integrated circuit: a power management chip that can both step-down (buck) and step-up (boost) input voltage to provide a stable, perfectly matched output Supporting MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors) that act as microscopic, high-speed electronic regulators. Inductors that temporarily store energy in a magnetic field and resist sudden changes in current to convert high-voltage wall electricity into a safe, steady flow for the battery A remaining source of heat is the charging coil itself. To address that, Mophie’s engineers also designed a dedicated heat sink around the wireless coil that helps transfer heat away from the charging area where it can be passively dissipated through the integrated cooling vents. The net effect is a charging architecture that promotes cooler operation by design rather than relying on fans or reducing charging speed after heat has already accumulated. This enables the chargers to maintain full 25W Qi2.2 charging performance while operating silently. During testing the phone never exceeded what might be described as a mildly warm temperature. I told you it’s not simple engineering to move this clever stuff around, but we don’t need to worry about that. We can just benefit from the enhanced energy transfer efficiency. Other 25W Qi2.2 wireless chargers will power up your iPhone at the same speed but a fan or StealthCharge makes it more likely that the 25W is passing without interruption. Simon Jary What does the Mophie Charge Stand include? There are two versions of Mophie’s StealthCharge Charge Stands: a 3-in-1 model that wirelessly charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods; and a 4-in-1 model that adds a retractable USB-C cable for charging iPads and MacBooks. All three or four devices can be charged at the same time, and Mophie includes a wall charger to cope with all the power: 40W for the 3-in-1 and a 100W charger for the 4-in-1. Output: Phone: 25W AirPods: 5W Apple Watch: 5W Cable: 60W The 4-in-1 Charge Stand can charge an iPad, MacBook or a second iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) using its integrated retractable USB-C cable.Simon Jary The 25W iPhone-charging pad works with all iPhones from the iPhone 12 onwards, but only the iPhone 16 and later support the full 25W. iPhone 15 and earlier are limited to 15W charging. In a stable charging environment 15W wireless charging should power an iPhone from 0% to 50% in around 45 minutes. 25W charging can do the same job in 30 minutes or so. The saved 15 minutes might not sound much and matters not at all if you are charging overnight but when you need power in a hurry it can make a noticeable difference. The 5W Apple Watch charger is compliant with Apple’s Watch fast charge rules, and you can’t charge your AirPods any faster without inserting a cable. The 4-in-1 Charge Stand’s retractable 2-foot (700mm) USB-C cable can supply up to 60W to a connected device, be that a second phone, an iPad, MacBook or other USB-C device. The 4-in-1 Mophie Charging Stand tucks a retractable 60W USB-C charging cable at the back of its base.Simon Jary 60W will keep even the 16-inch MacBook Pro charged to a reasonable level and is not far off Apple’s fast-charge input (70W) for the MacBook Air and offers three times the power as the charger that Apple includes with its MacBook Neo (unless you are based in the U.K. or E.U. where Apple doesn’t include a charger at all!). What’s it like to use every day? The Mophie Charge Stand is a classic desk or nightstand elevated stand with the iPhone-charging pad at the front with a recessed AirPods case charging module below in the sturdy weighted base. The Apple Watch charger sticks out the back. You can tilt the iPhone charging surface to your preferred viewing angle or flatten it straight for video chats. Simon Jary It has a small footprint, measuring 3.15 x 4.05 x 5.6 inches (80 x 103 x 142mm), and like most multi-device chargers will reduce messy and inconvenient cable clutter. It weighs 13.5oz (384g). The lack of a fan makes this an appealing nightstand charger as you wouldn’t want a fan blaring away while you try to sleep. To be fair to charger manufacturers such as ESR (CryoBoost) and Belkin (ChillBoost), these fans are near whisper quiet. Read our reviews of the ESR CryoBoost 3-in-1 Magnetic 25W Charging Station and the Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock. Each model is available in three colors: Black, White (silver with white charging areas) and Gold (closer to a champagne). Simon Jary How much does it cost? The Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand is priced at $149.95 / £119.95. The 4-in-1 costs $179.95 / £139.95. Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand Price When Reviewed: $149.95 Best Prices Today: $149.95 at Apple Mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charge Stand Read our review Price When Reviewed: $179.95 Best Prices Today: $179.95 at Apple Both Charge Stands include a 1.5m USB-C cable. The 4-in-1 Charge Stand ships with a 100W wall charger, and the 3-in-1 a 40W charger. Check out our reviews of the best wireless charging stations for alternatives, although if you admire this form factor there’s nothing really to stop you ordering one right away. Simon Jary Should you buy the Mophie Charge Stand? The stand itself is a classic shape with the fastest-available wireless outputs in a choice of colors, and with a tilting iPhone charging pad. But the real benefit is in Mophie’s clever StealthCharge technology that promotes cooler charging by efficiently moving heat away from the device, delivering a cooler, faster, and quieter charging experience than found in most other Apple device chargers. The retractable cable in the 4-in-1 model means you shouldn’t need another charger even for your MacBook.

Read more »

Grab OWC Thunderbolt docks, cables, enclosures from just $19.99 with exclusive deals
Exclusive 4th of July deals are in effect at OWC, dropping prices for enclosures, docks, and Thunderbolt 5 cables to as low as $19.99.Save on OWC Thunderbolt 5 docks, cables, enclosures - Image credit: OWCThe sale includes a variety of accessories for your Mac or iPad, with OWC's 11-Port Thunderbolt 5 Dock especially enticing at $229.99 after a $69 discount.You can also pick up a Thunderbolt 5 cable for $19.99 and a ThunderBay 4 Enclosure for $309.99. The four-bay Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) external storage enclosure for 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives is a great way to expand your storage, especially if you're a content creator needing an abundance of space. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Your Mac has over 1,200 hidden features— this $40 app unlocks them
Macworld TL;DR: MacPilot lets you customize, optimize, and maintain your Mac with more than 1,200 hidden settings—all for a one-time $39.99 lifetime license. Your Mac is powerful — but most of that power stays locked behind complicated command lines and hidden menus you’ll probably never see. Unless, of course, you’ve got MacPilot. Right now, you can grab a lifetime license for just $39.99 and unlock over 1,200 features you didn’t even know your Mac had. With MacPilot, you can: Show hidden files in Finder Disable that infamous startup chime Add spacers and stacks to the Dock Change screenshot formats on the fly Run maintenance tools to optimize speed Access detailed system profiles and error codes It’s like going from passenger to pilot of your Mac — complete control without having to type a single line of code. Whether you want to streamline your workflow, clean up performance, or just geek out customizing your desktop, MacPilot has you covered. And since it comes with lifetime access and upgrades, it’s the kind of tool that will pay for itself every time you use it. Your Mac has always had more to give — MacPilot just hands you the keys. Get lifetime access to MacPilot while it’s just $39.99 (MSRP: $99). MacPilot Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Never worry about running out of space again — 6TB of cloud storage for a flat $140
Macworld TL;DR: Get 6TB of lifetime encrypted cloud storage for $139.95 (MSRP $432) with Scramble Cloud, featuring end-to-end encryption, private sharing, and secure access across your devices. Running out of storage is frustrating. Handing your files over to a service that can access them isn’t much better. If you’re looking for a cloud storage solution that puts privacy on equal footing with convenience, Scramble Cloud is worth a closer look. Scramble Cloud’s lifetime 6TB plan is available for $139.95 (MSRP $432), giving you a massive amount of storage without another recurring bill. More importantly, every file is encrypted on your device before it’s uploaded, so only you — and the people you choose to share with — can access your data. It’s more than just a place to stash files, too. Scramble Cloud includes features that make it practical for everyday use: End-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge architecture Secure file sharing through encrypted links and groups WebDAV support to mount your cloud storage like a local drive Browser, desktop, and command line access across devices Encrypted video streaming plus document previews for Word and Excel files Two-factor authentication and GDPR-compliant infrastructure Whether you’re backing up years of photos, storing large work projects, or simply trying to keep everything in one secure place, Scramble Cloud offers plenty of room to grow without sacrificing privacy. Take cloud storage off your monthly budget and secure 6TB for life with Scramble Cloud for just $139.95 (MSRP $432). Scramble Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (6TB)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Apple says public YouTube videos can be used in AI lawsuit defense
Apple is asking a federal court to dismiss the YouTuber AI training lawsuit, on the grounds that publicly available YouTube videos are lawfully accessible under both the DMCA and YouTube's Terms of Service.Apple seeks dismissal of YouTube AI training lawsuitIn April 2026, a collection of YouTube channels sued Apple, claiming the company had scraped videos from YouTube to train internal AI models.The class-action lawsuit was headed up by Ted Entertainment, owners of the h3h3Productions channels and podcast. Two golf channels, MrShortGameGolf and Golfholics, were also involved. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Prosser denies conspiring to steal Apple secrets in lawsuit response, blames Ramacciotti
After getting a second chance to formally respond to Apple’s lawsuit, Jon Prosser filed his answer today, disputing the company’s account of how he obtained and published details about the Liquid Glass revamp. Here are the details.

Read more »

Silo season three is streaming today on Apple TV
The hit sci-fi series Silo is back today for a third season, streaming exclusively on Apple TV. Based on the book series by Hugh Howey, the acclaimed series sees the human population living in a vast underground bunker, but no one really knows how it came to be. In the third season, a split timeline narrative begins to reveal some of the show’s biggest mysteries. In the present timeline, Juliette (star Rebecca Ferguson) struggles with amnesia, while in the past timeline, flashbacks show who, how and why the silos were built in the first place.

Read more »