Pet Robots Edge Closer to Reality
Advances in AI, robotics, and emotional design are pushing pet robots beyond novelty status and closer to becoming interactive household companions. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Govee TV Backlight 3 brings cinema-grade reactive lighting with Matter support
Govee is launching its new TV Backlight 3 product, bringing cinema-grade reactive lighting with Matter support to your home theater. more…

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AI is making smartphones verifiably worse by design
Smartphone manufacturers are overloading their devices with AI features in an effort to control how you interface with both the device and information at large. That's not good.Is Apple Intelligence something the iPhone even needs?On Friday, Wes had asked me if I wanted to write a piece on what I thought AI was good for, versus what it is decidedly not good for. Yes, he knows exactly what he was doing with that "harmless pitch."He is, after all, someone who routinely tags me in Slack with some sort of very, very stupid AI innovation just to get my reaction. And who can blame him: I take the bait every time. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s faulty chips are big business for the company, and not just in the MacBook Neo
Apple has for years been using a procedure known as chip binning to reuse faulty chips in other models of a product, or even entirely different products. A new report gives further examples of cases where Apple has been able to take chips which failed quality control for one product and subsequently use them in another – and says that the practice dates all the way back to the original iPad and iPhone 4 … more…

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India's Apple antitrust case gets minor reprieve as fears of $38 billion fine continue
Apple has been given two more months to comply with India's antitrust investigation, even as it is being ordered to "fully cooperate" with orders to submit financial statements.Tim Cook in a previous visit to India — image credit: AppleIn its antitrust investigation against Apple, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been trying to get the company to submit audited statements for 2022 to 2024. Apple has so far refused to do so while it separately argues against details of the very law it is said to have broken.Now according to The Next Web, the Delhi High Court has ordered Apple to hand over the financial information. However, as well as ordering Apple to "fully cooperate," the court also told the CCI not to issue its ruling before July 15, 2026. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple gift card scam cost buyers hundreds of millions of dollars
An Apple gift card scam saw buyers lose hundreds of millions of dollars. One raid alone recovered 4,000 iPhones worth between $8M and $9M, with the New Hampshire-based operation even involving a murder. The sophisticated operation started with the theft of Apple gift cards from retail outlets before they were tampered with and then replaced in the stores. The moral of the story is only to ever buy the cards direct from Apple stores … more…

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Apple’s AI-powered Siri may forget your chats by design
Apple will reportedly take a stricter privacy-first approach with its AI-powered Siri chatbot by limiting how long conversations and memory data can persist. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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MacBook Neo is living rent-free in PC rivals’ heads
Macworld Apple, for all its stagecraft and marketing savvy, often seems to get the best PR when it’s not in the spotlight. Attention brings criticism, and the afterglow of an Apple event, tech columnists and TikTok trolls alike line up to dunk on the iPhone Air’s plateau, say, or the Mac Pro’s wheels. But watch the vibe change when another company takes its turn on the stage. The critics and memers gave the MacBook Neo a comparatively easy ride when it turned up at the start of March. But last week, a week in which Apple made no announcements about the product and implemented no special marketing efforts, was perhaps its best yet, thanks to Google and Microsoft’s clumsy efforts to take it down. We’re not owned, they both insisted, while slowly shrinking and turning into a corncob. Google started things off by unveiling the Googlebook, a Gemini-pushing device which my colleague on PC World astutely calls the world’s first anti-personal computer. The software philosophy behind the Googlebook is AI-first, but its design and hardware approach are clearly Neo-second: an obvious attempt to recapture the lightning which Apple bottled so successfully a couple of months ago. We don’t yet know any tech specs, and Google promises something “premium” to sit above the Chromebook. But such terms are relative, and we should remember that Chromebooks can be had for less than $200. Given the new device’s role as an AI delivery system and Android emulator, it seems unlikely that Acer, Dell, and the rest will cram it with top-tier componentry. Expect something sleek, lightweight, but affordable; $599 has a nice ring to it. While Google was flattering Apple with imitation, Microsoft was performatively insisting that the MacBook Neo isn’t a big deal at all. Hilariously, the company went to the trouble of commissioning a super-serious and definitely unbiased whitepaper on the subject. It turns out that we were all sadly mistaken, and the Neo isn’t an excellent budget laptop after all. Much better, our researchers explain, to plump for (checks notes) laptops which are way more expensive, made of plastic, stuffed with bloatware, or all of the above. I could spend a whole column talking about the silliness of the whitepaper–indeed, I strongly recommend that you read Roman Loyola’s polite demolition of its claims–but the real problem is not so much that the study is wrong. It’s that Microsoft thought commissioning and publishing the study would help. If you have to commission whitepapers to tell people not to buy your rival’s laptops, you’ve already lost. And paying researchers to prove something isn’t a big deal, rather shows that you think it is. But perhaps all this foolishness shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The MacBook Neo has done a good job of selling itself to budget laptop buyers, but it’s done a far better job of getting under the skin of rival tech companies. Right from the start, comparisons showed that the machine was performing better at a role traditionally filled by Windows machines, and PC makers have been panicking ever since. The funniest part is that the industry can’t decide whether the Neo is good, and therefore worth copying, or bad, and therefore not a threat. Sometimes you’ll find a PC maker unable to decide between these two mutually exclusive positions. Shortly after the Neo launch, Asus CEO S.Y. Hsu admitted it was “a shock to the entire industry” and that the whole PC ecosystem had been talking about how to compete with it. But a few sentences later, he was insisting that, actually, the Neo is just a content consumption device that won’t have much of an impact. You can’t have it both ways, I’m afraid. Ultimately, the response of PC makers (and PC operating system makers) to the launch of the MacBook Neo reflects a difference in philosophy at the most fundamental level. Apple’s rivals find it fascinating. They don’t quite understand how it works or how it has achieved what it has, which is why no other company has been able to replicate the Apple formula. But they can’t stop watching. And again and again, they find themselves unable to resist the temptation of making Apple the subject of their own marketing. Apple, on the other hand, spends its time focusing on itself. It’s aware of other companies and their products, and of course, like all tech companies, it uses the developments and innovations of others to spur on its own work. It acquires other companies and hires their staff. But it views rival products as a starting point: something to surpass, not to imitate. And that’s why the company makes products that are worth imitating, and which customers want to buy without the influence of silly whitepapers. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Good news: Google didn’t copy Liquid Glass. Bad news: It did something even worse. Uh-oh! Google just helped Apple sell a million more MacBook Neos. While Microsoft commissioned a special MacBook Neo study because it’s totally not worried. The so-called iPhone Neo should be an instant ‘no’ from Apple. Better go for a screen-less Apple Watch Neo instead. 35 years ago, the Mac got an era-defining upgrade, and we’re all still using many of its innovations. iOS 26 broke Felipe Esposito’s iPhone. But a fix is coming… we hope. Apple is missing the thing that once made it great, argues the Macalope. It’s up to John Ternus to bring some fun to the halls of Apple Park. Podcast of the week xOS 26.5 is now available. What are the new features? Plus, we talk about Apple Watch rumors in the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. The rumor mill AI could make iOS 27 much bigger than the rumors suggest. We might not get another new Mac till 2027. And you can blame AI for that one, too. Apple isn’t bringing Touch ID to the Apple Watch, leaker insists. Sorry haters, Liquid Glass on the Mac isn’t going anywhere. Video of the week @macworld.com What’s in the iOS 26.5 update? #apple #iphone #ios ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld What’s in the iOS 26.5 update? Three major things, as you’ll discover in our latest short video. Follow us on TikTok and Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems Big Camera and Siri design changes are reportedly coming with iOS 27. iOS 26.5 may be small, but it hides some incredible new features. Plus an amazing new iPhone wallpaper you need to see. macOS 26.5 has a new way to turn on your Mac. Apple just pushed dozens of critical security updates, going all the way back to 2015 iPhones. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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This $30 Office for Mac deal beats wrestling with those free alternatives
Macworld TL;DR: This Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 deal gets Mac users lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more for just $29.97 (reg. $229). There’s a point where “good enough” free productivity apps start becoming annoying. Formatting breaks. Excel files possessed. PowerPoint presentations suddenly look different on someone else’s computer. This Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac deal can help restore order to your digital life. It’s on sale for a one-time $29.97 payment (reg. $229), which gets you lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic on one Mac device. Instead of adding another subscription to the monthly pile, you pay once and keep using the apps you already know. No recurring fees. No “your subscription has expired” jump scare six months from now. This version was redesigned specifically for Mac users, too, with Retina display optimization, full-screen support, and smoother macOS integration. So it still feels modern despite being Office 2019. It’s also ideal for people who regularly work with Microsoft file formats for school, remote work, business, freelancing, or side projects. Because while free alternatives exist, they don’t usually work as well as the real deal. For smart buyers who want familiar tools without subscription fatigue, $29.97 for lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019 (reg. $229) is super reasonable. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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M5 MacBook Pro 16GB/1TB is $199 Off
The latest M5 MacBook Pro features a faster CPU, Unified memory, and the M5 chip for next-generation speed, power, and performance. Each core features a Neural Accelerator built-into them. The device is made for Apple Intelligence, the personal AI system that helps keep you organized and zoom through your workload and provides you with groundbreaking […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Technology for Video Podcast to be Integrated by Spotify
Plans to integrate the HTTP Live Streaming by Apple have been announced by Spotify, which allows creators to provide video shows on Spotify without having to change their current setup. Enhanced HLS has been introduced by Apple, allowing for a video podcast experience on the iPhone, Vision Pro, and iPad, with the improvement largely improving […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Intel Reportedly Started Small-Scale Manufacturing of Chips for Apple
The sole supplier for Apple chips for 10 years has been TSMC, but that collaboration may be ending soon. Intel has conducted small-scale testing for chip manufacturing for low-end iPads, Macs, and iPhones, with production expected to scale throughout next year and 2028. Apple will be making use of the 18A process of Intel and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Made Modem Coming to iPhone 18 Adds Privacy Feature
Reports hint that Apple will be branching out its own-design modems to the upcoming iPhone 18 models, meaning support for Qualcomm modems will end. This shift will provide improvements in efficiency and speed, with a small benefit for privacy. The Limit Precise Location setting has been added by Apple in iOS 26.3, where it reduces […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Anker 3in1 Wireless Charging Station is $45 Off
Enjoy 25W of wireless charging across 3 devices in a compact design that is just the size of your palm, allowing it to fit in every setup you have seamlessly and bring it without taking up much space in your luggage to stay connected on the go. It features 25W Qi2.2 Ultra-Fast Magsafe Charging and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Bluey Takeover Next Week in Apple Arcade
On May 21, characters from Bluey will be coming to 5 titles in Apple Arcade in a crossover event. Titles like Disney Coloring World+, Suika Game+, Stitch, Puffies, and Crossy Road Castle will be getting the update. Four games will be added to Apple Arcade on June 4: FreeCell Solitaire: Card Game+, Mini Football Legends, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Hearing Aid Feature Now Available in More Countries
The Hearing Aid feature for the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2 has expanded to Czechia, Italy, and Romania today. The option for Hearing Aid can be used as an alternative to the normal set of hearing aids, allowing the earbuds to minimize moderate to mild hearing loss as it adjusts the sound and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Plans to Branch Out F1 Hits a Slump
Apple may have hit a wall in expanding streaming for F1 for Apple TV outside the United States after early renewals have been signed by Sky Sports to keep broadcasting rights across the biggest European Markets. F1 and Sky have a joint collaboration announcing that Sky Sports will remain the partner for live broadcasting for […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Anker 140W 4-port GaN USB-C Charger is $20 Off
Enjoy fast charging up to four devices with the 4-port USB-C GaN charger with superior safety features like Activeshield 4.0, a system that keeps track of the temperatures of the devices connected 10 million times for superior safety. Enjoy 140W of charging with the 2 USB-C ports that charge your MacBook Air from 0-50 in […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Samsung Releasing Products and AI Smartglasses Ahead of Apple Next Month
An event for July is planned by Samsung, where they plan to unveil AI Galaxy glasses and foldable smartphones. The event for Samsung will happen on July 22 as they premiere the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8, foldable smartphones. This will happen a few weeks ahead of the unveiling of the first foldable […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Foxconn Suffers Ransomware Attack With Important Project Files From Apple Stolen
A confirmed cyberattack on Foxconn and its factories in the United States has been reported, with a ransomware group stating that they have stolen important and confidential project files that belonged to Apple in the attack. This week, the Nitrogen Group has posted a breach on their data leak site, with 11 trillion files and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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