Apple Watch Ultra 4 To Get Design Overhaul
A new design could be coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 4, where Apple is looking to add a new notification feature for high blood pressure to the device. It will use an optical heart rate sensor behind the device to see how your blood vessels will respond to your heartbeat. The feature is reportedly […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Finalist for Apple Design Award Announced
Ahead of this year’s WWDC, taking place on June 8, finalists for this year’s Apple Design Awards have been announced by Apple. The company selects the top games and apps yearly, and the winner is made known then. The categories are Delight and fun for both games and apps, Inclusivity for games and apps, Innovation […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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11-inch M4 iPad Air 128GB is $79 Off
The iPad Air is powered by the M4 chip, giving the lightweight device strong speed and performance everywhere you go. It features Apple Intelligence, the personal AI system that helps get things done and protects your data.The device features an 11-inch Liquid Retina Display featuring advanced technology such as True Tone, Ultralow Reflectivity, and P3 […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Card Promotion Enables You to Get Free AirPods Pro 3
Individuals who sign up in Apple Retail stores in the United States for an Apple Card will be able to get a cashback of $249 with the purchase of an AirPods Pro 3. Apple has not yet announced the promo officially. In the United States, the AirPods Pro 3 are priced at about $249, meaning […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Personal Financing Coming to ChatGPT
A new finance feature is being added by OpenAI to ChatGPT, enabling individuals to bind their financial accounts to the AI for advice on budgeting. OpenAI and Plaid will be collaborating so that their accounts from the bank, investment accounts, and credit cards can be connected to the AI.A dashboard will be provided by ChatGPT […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Fastest Charging Smartphone Goes to the iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro has been given the title of the fastest charging smartphone overall in a lab test by CNET that tested 33 smartphones. The Galaxy S26 by Samsung has taken the highest spot for the charging speed when wired. CNET ran each device in a wired charging test that lasted 30 minutes each […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Airbnb upgrades iOS and Android app with three key enhancements for your next trip
Airbnb launched a major iOS and Android app redesign a year ago. The updated app surfaced new experiences to have on vacation beyond just where you choose to stay. Now Airbnb is further transforming its app into an all-in-one destination for managing your next trip by integrating four useful new services. The new Airbnb app is also leveraging AI with three new features, and the service is expanding the types of destinations you can book. more…

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Apple’s hardware shake-up: New chief Johny Srouji streamlines product design to accelerate future devices
Apple is undergoing a significant internal restructuring in its hardware division, led by newly elevated Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Latest Apple Immersive rollout exemplifies Apple Vision Pro's entire problem
Apple isn't doing a good job shaking the accusations of abandoning the Apple Vision Pro platform when you observe how it handles sharing information about exclusive content like Immersive Video.Apple Vision Pro needs more attention from AppleI'm an Apple Vision Pro enthusiast that sees a lot of potential in the platform. It's still a main device in my workflow that I like to visit multiple times a week to get some focused writing done.However, it isn't surprising in the least that Apple randomly dropped a trailer for its next Immersive Video on Wednesday morning in 2D on YouTube. It isn't on a subject I'm particularly interested in, but it is one of very few videos shot in this format for the very expensive platform. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Deals: M3 iPad Air $400 off, 1TB M5 iPad Pro all-time low, 24GB M5 MacBook Pro $1,499, Apple Watch Ultra 3, more
The 2026 Memorial Day sales at Amazon and Best Buy are now live, and today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are ready too. Headliners include this giant $400 price drop hitting this 1TB M3 iPad Air alongside all four colors on Apple’s new mid-range 256GB M4 iPad Air at $110 off and a new all-time low on this nano-texture 1TB M5 iPad Pro at $200 off. We also have the most accessible M5 MacBook Pro models now at $1,499 all-time lows – 16GB/1TB or 24GB/512GB joined by all 15-inch M5 MacBook Air models at $150 off via Amazon ahead of Memorial Day. In case you missed it yesterday, the now live Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game console bundle deal might be the best deal we will see all year. Head below for a closer look. more…

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We found the perfect iPhone 17 Pro accessory—and it’s just $13
Macworld Jelanry USB-C Earphones View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); Apple isn’t usually a big fan of bright and fun colors for its iPhones, which is why Cosmic Orange is such a hit. And if you’re like us and instantly grabbed the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange, then we’ve got the perfect accessory for you. These wired earbuds have an old-school vibe with a Cosmic Orange flair and only cost $12.55 after applying the 10 percent coupon at Amazon. The Cosmic Orange color is likely to be discontinued this year, but the abnormally bright shade has already secured its place as one of the best iPhone colors ever made. So until Apple makes a pair of orange AirPods, these USB-C headphones are the next best thing. They’re fun and bright, and, since they’re wired, you won’t be able to lose them. Even better, the buds have a little magnet on them so they clasp together around your neck when you’re not using them. Oh, and you’ll even get a mini portable storage case for them, so you won’t even have to worry about them getting tangled up in knots when shoving them into your pocket. If you’re old enough to remember the good old days of wired headphones, then you’ll be happy to hear that these come with a built-in mic so you can take calls, as well as on-wire music and call controls. Classic. Just like Cosmic Orange.

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Apple TV went from industry skepticism to Cannes Lions recognition under Eddy Cue
Cannes Lions is honoring Apple Services chief Eddy Cue after Apple turned its once-questioned Apple TV push into a credible prestige entertainment business with growing influence in Hollywood.Apple SVP of Services Eddy Cue. Photo credit: Re/CodeCue will receive Cannes Lions' Entertainment Person of the Year honor during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which runs June 22 through June 26 in Cannes, France. Cue is also scheduled to appear in a keynote conversation with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose "F1" became one of Apple's highest-profile theatrical films.Cannes Lions is recognizing Apple's growing power across entertainment, advertising, and subscription services as much as it is honoring Cue himself. The festival focuses heavily on marketing, audience engagement, and platform influence instead of traditional Hollywood prestige.Cue fits naturally into that environment because Apple controls both the devices people use and the services delivered through them. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Google I/O 2026 had nothing to say and said it badly ahead of Apple's WWDC
Google I/O is always like a little amateur dramatics show, but this year the company could have boasted about making Apple rely on its Gemini. It just totally failed to do so.Sundar Pichai - image credit: GoogleToday the word "claptrap" is used to mean that someone is talking rubbish, but originally it was a theatrical term. It meant the bit in a show where the dancer or actor pauses in just such a way that the audience knows to applaud.This year's Google I/O seemed to have quite a bit of the modern meaning of claptrap. But, painfully, it also lacked the original one as, over and over again, presenters paused for applause that just did not come. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Activo Scoop review: Hi-Fi earbuds with a low-fi price
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Excellent sound quality Competitive price Useful accessories 3.5mm, 4.4mm and USB-C connectors Cons Wired-only, with few digital features Treble can sound a little over-bright Chunky design Our Verdict The Activo Scoop delivers impressive Hi-Fi sound at a budget price, with powerful bass, crisp detail and versatile wired connectivity. It lacks wireless features and noise cancellation, but the generous accessories and strong audio performance make it excellent value for wired listening fans. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed80.00 Best Prices Today: Activo Scoop Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who is Scoop for? Listeners who want strong Hi-Fi sound quality at an affordable price. Fans of wired headphones and lossless/high-resolution audio. People who use multiple devices and need 3.5mm, USB-C and 4.4mm connectivity. Rock, electronic and bass-heavy music fans who enjoy an energetic sound. Who is Scoop not for? Buyers who want wireless earbuds or Bluetooth convenience. Users looking for active noise cancellation or smart features. People who prefer small, lightweight earbuds with a minimalist design. Listeners who are sensitive to bright or forward treble tones. Astell & Kern is a well-known name in the high-end Hi-Fi market, but it recently launched a more affordable brand called Activo, aimed at buyers on a tighter budget. Its latest release is the Scoop, a set of wired in-ear headphones designed for Hi-Fi and lossless listening. Despite the lower price, the Scoop still delivers A&K’s strong audio pedigree, along with versatile connectivity and a generous set of accessories. A&K even describes the Scoop as an IEM (In-Ear Monitor), a term commonly used for high-quality earbuds designed for accurate audio reproduction. Our review covers the Scoop’s sound quality, comfort, design, accessories and multi-device connectivity, while assessing whether its audio performance outweighs the lack of wireless and noise-cancelling features. The Scoop’s earpieces are based on the shape of small pebbles that have been smoothed down over time to provide a comfortable fit. Iriver Company Design and connectivity The first thing you notice is the sturdy design of the Scoop, with chunky earpieces and a thick braided cable, which is also detachable. In fact, the cable itself is an impressive piece of engineering as – like many expensive Hi-Fi cables – it’s made of silver-plated copper wire, and uses ‘oxygen-free’ copper (OFC) that helps to reduce distortion that can affect the audio signal.  The cable has a standard 3.5mm connector attached when you open the box, but you can remove this and replace it with either the USB-C connector that is included for use with computers and mobile devices, or the 4.4mm connector that is provided for use with high-end Hi-Fi equipment (although a proper manual or quick-start guide would help for new users who aren’t familiar with this type of design).  The Scoop includes removable connectors for 3.5mm, 4.4mm and USB-C interfaces. Iriver Company How comfortable is Scoop to wear? The earpieces are a little on the chunky side, but A&K says that the design was inspired by the shape of a pebble that has been worn smooth over time in order to fit comfortably into your ear. And, as with many IEMs, that cable is designed to hook upwards and then wrap back behind your ear, rather than just hanging straight down from the ears.  This means that the Scoop isn’t the most elegant set of earbuds you’ll ever wear, but hooking the cable over your ears like that does help to keep the earbuds in place, especially if you’re out jogging or exercising. I was also pleased to find that the Scoop includes three sets of silicon eartips (S/M/L) along with three sets of memory foam eartips as well, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a firm and comfortable fit for the earpieces. There’s also a sturdy carrying case included to provide extra protection when you’re travelling. That set of accessories is very good value at this price, but the real strength of the Scoop lies with the internal design of the earpieces. How does the Scoop sound? One reason why the earpieces on the Scoop are larger than many of their rivals is that they boast a ‘hybrid’ design that uses no less than five separate drivers in each earpiece. There are three conventional ‘dynamic’ drivers – which are the most common type of driver found in affordable earbuds such as this – along with two ‘balanced armature’ drivers, which are more typically found in expensive Hi-Fi headphones. That combination is designed to provide strong sound quality right across the frequency range, with the dynamic drivers handling the mid-range and bass, while the more precise balanced armature drivers handle the higher frequencies. That hybrid approach paid dividends when I used the Scoop’s USB-C connector to plug into Apple Music on my iPad Air. The electronic bass effects on You Should See Me In A Crown by Billie Eilish land with real weight, pulsing with an ominous energy as Billie whispers – “watch me make ‘em bow”. The bass doesn’t get out of control though, and the Scoop captures the breathy whisper in Billie’s voice, as well as the manic ticking of percussion that sounds like someone having a panic attack in the background.  The Scoop also works a treat on the head-banging guitar work of Brian May on the aptly titled Hammer To Fall – Headbanger Mix by Queen. There’s that same weighty sound again, this time on the opening drums and crashing cymbals, before May launches into the track’s crunchy riff. The Queen harmonies ring out clear and loud as they yell – “what the hell we fighting for?” – but the Scoop really comes into its own with May’s shrieking, wailing guitar on the final extended solo, underpinned by riffing power chords and the driving bass and drums. Some people might find the treble a little in-your-face but I’ve always loved the screechy sound of Brian May’s home-made guitar and the Scoop can handle dance music and heavy rock with equal authority. Should you buy the Activo Scoop? If you want wireless features such as noise cancellation or AI-powered tools like live translation, the Activo Scoop won’t be the right fit. However, for listeners focused purely on sound quality, these affordable wired earbuds deliver impressive hi-fi audio, powerful bass and crisp detail, along with excellent connectivity options and a generous bundle of accessories that make them outstanding value.

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Apple’s three goals for iOS 27 sound like a big win for users
We’re less than three weeks away from WWDC and iOS 27’s unveiling, and reporting indicates Apple has three main goals for the update that could be exactly what the iPhone needs. more…

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Apple Watch Ultra 4 might add better hypertension alerts
Apple is also said to be working on a major design and sensor upgrades. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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John Travolta unsure he will direct again after Cannes debut of Apple TV film ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’
John Travolta says he’s unsure he’ll direct again after making his feature directorial debut at the Cannes Film Festival with the deeply… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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App Store fraud prevention a big numbers game powered by AI & human review
Artificial intelligence has helped Apple's human-based App Store Review process prevent over $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2025. It also rejected more harmful apps than ever before.The App Store is seeing more submissions all the time. Malicious app submissions are also increasing in number.Policing the App Store for malware is a task for the App Store Review team, which is getting tougher over time thanks to AI-assisted app development. However, artificial intelligence is also helping Apple combat harmful versions of apps.In a review of the 2025 submissions, Apple claims it had prevented over $2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions. This brings the total over the last six years to more than $11.2 billion. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How Apple blocked $2.2 billion in App Store fraud in 2025
For the safety of users and developers, Apple's App Store blocked over $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions in 2025. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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What is a DAC? How to get better Lossless Audio on iPhone and Mac
Macworld Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President in charge of running Apple Music, recently gave an interview to Billboard magazine in which he discussed a wide range of topics, including the often thorny issue of lossless audio.  Following that interview, several media outlets reported Schusser as having said that “most people can’t tell the difference” when listening to lossless or high-res audio. In fact, what he really said was – “lossless actually doesn’t work over Bluetooth. When you have a wireless connection, lossless doesn’t actually work”. So Schusser was really pointing out the limitations of using Bluetooth for wireless headphones, rather than saying that lossless audio doesn’t matter at all (or, as suggested by some outlets, that it only matters to pretentious audiophiles who like to pretend that they can hear the difference).  It’s true that Bluetooth does require audio files to be heavily compressed for wireless transmission, and that compression can affect the audio quality even when using really expensive Bluetooth headphones such as Apple’s own AirPods Max. But, of course, that completely overlooks the option of using traditional wired headphones instead. Wired headphones do have the ability to play ‘lossless’ or ‘high-res’ audio that retains all the clarity and detail of the original recording – and, of course, many of the best Bluetooth headphones now provide a wired option as well.  However, most computers and mobile devices aren’t designed for handling lossless or high-res audio, so a DAC – a digital-to-analogue-converter – can help your Mac, iPhone or iPad to deliver the best possible sound quality to your wired headphones. Should you buy a DAC?  Consider a DAC if: you use wired headphones you listen to lossless/high-res audio you want better sound quality from a phone or laptop You probably don’t need a DAC if: you mainly use Bluetooth headphones you stream compressed audio only convenience matters more than audio quality Best starting point: Portable DAC under $100/£100

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