Liquid Glass is controversial, but it just won a prestigious design award
Among Apple's strong showing of six total wins at the 2026 Art Directors Club of New York awards, the highlight was a Gold Cube honor for the controversial Liquid Glass redesign.Liquid Glass has won a prestigious design award - image credit: AppleLiquid Glass has had some vocal opposition because of issues to do with readability across the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and Apple is expected to show an improved version at WWDC 2026. But its initial release has earned Apple yet another Gold Cube ADC award.The 13 judges on the jury have not yet commented on their choice, and may not do so until the official ceremony on May 15, 2026. But the pitch that Apple's in-house design team made for the awards reveals what it was aiming at. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

iPhone thieves can get up to $800 more if they snatch unlocked devices
There’s been an epidemic in the past few years of iPhone thieves using scooters and electric bikes to snatch devices from the hands of their owners while they’re walking down the street. The reason this is the method of choice for thieves is because it enables them to grab an unlocked iPhone, which can be worth $800 more to them than a locked one … more…

Read more »

Sketchy report says ‘possibility’ of screen distortion in the iPhone 20
A sketchy supply chain report out of Korea claims that the bezel-free display destined for the iPhone 20 is an early iteration of the technology and there is “a possibility of screen distortion.” The report was updated from an earlier version, which said that Apple was willing to accept a “compromise” on the 2027 model, with a better version planned for 2028 … more…

Read more »

iPhone Neo should be an instant ‘no’ from Apple
Macworld The MacBook Neo was a brilliant idea, and Apple deserves every bit of success that followed. But that doesn’t mean you can apply the same formula to other products without thinking it through properly, and I fear that all this talk of an iPhone Neo misses the point. What made the MacBook Neo so appealing to customers? It was an excellent laptop at a great price, with a fun and unique look and a finely balanced set of specs. It compromised in the areas where compromise was acceptable (the trackpad, multi-core performance), and excelled in the ones where it wasn’t (look and feel, the screen, everyday performance). This all sounds simple, but it’s not. For a start, context matters. Think of the Mac range before the Neo came along. The cheapest Mac overall was a $599 Mac mini, not including a monitor or keyboard. As for the cheapest Mac laptop, this had been $999, and went up to $1,099 the day before the Neo’s launch. Very few pundits thought $599 was a realistic price for Apple to aim for (my guess was between $699 and $799), and those negative expectations made the product look like an absolute bargain when it was announced. Then let’s consider how Apple achieved that low price. One key element was using A18 Pro chips that were made for the iPhone 16 Pro but ended up in an unused bin due to defective GPU cores. Those binned processors were very little use to Apple, so they’re essentially free parts: it was a clever economy, the tech equivalent of flushing the toilet with water you’ve already used to wash your hands. But what happens if everyone loves your new plumbing system and starts to flush more often than they wash? You’ve got yourself a problem. Rather oddly, for a product designed to appeal to a wide audience, the MacBook Neo isn’t really scalable: the more successful it becomes, the less sense it makes from an economic perspective. Binned chips aren’t something you choose to make; they’re an accidental byproduct of other processes. If demand explodes and you have to fill the shortfall with non-binned chips (potentially disabling a single core via software for consistency), costs go up. And that’s aside from other component costs rising at the same time, thanks to the memory crisis, another thing for which we can thank the AI bubble. What would happen if Apple applied the Neo formula to the smartphone space? Let’s imagine, as 9to5Mac does in its plea to John Ternus, that next fall’s iPhone 18e is rebranded as or accompanied by an iPhone Neo. What would that product look like? It would, of course, be cheap. Not “cheap” like the $599 17e, which 9to5Mac calls “exactly in line with what you’d expect from Apple.” This would sit below that tier, let’s say around $399… a number which may ring some bells, because it’s the original price of the first iPhone SE. Apple has done this before. To be fair, this wouldn’t be a remake of the SE, which was all about cramming up-to-date components into an old chassis. The Neo formula stresses the importance of an attractive design and looks to make sacrifices in other areas. So our iPhone Neo would look like a modern iPhone but feature older parts: maybe an A17 processor, an LCD screen, a 12MP camera, and similar outdated specs. Would that be popular? Perhaps, and perhaps not. For one thing, we’d need to bear in mind that the context is different. Mac buyers were pleasantly surprised by the Neo’s price tag, which was unprecedented; whereas a $399 iPhone is, well, precedented. In fact, iPhones could be had for only slightly more than that (a mere $429) as recently as February last year. Nobody is going to be blown away by the idea of a $399 iPhone, particularly after the success of the MBN and the articles demanding a similarly budget-friendly iPhone. A breath of fresh air: The indigo MacBook Neo.Foundry On the looks front, too, the context is different. The blush, citrus, and indigo color finishes of the MBN arrived as a breath of fresh air, an antidote to the aesthetic conservatism of the rest of the MacBook range. Apple identified an unoccupied niche and occupied it. But we’ve had colorful iPhones before. Sure, the Pro models display a sad and inexplicable lack of fun, but the iPhone 17 comes in sage and lavender, and the iPhone 16 in teal and pink. Color-starved Mac users needed a Neo model in a way that similarly inclined iPhone users do not. But most fundamentally, I doubt Apple’s ability to deliver an externally attractive $399 iPhone in the current market without making serious compromises on the inside. We don’t officially know why the company discontinued the iPhone SE line last year, but the profit margin at that price was almost certainly a factor. Components are now more expensive in general, and using a binned processor would only help to a limited extent. Apple already uses them in the Neo, iPad mini, iPhone 17e, and other products, and budget smartphones generally sell in higher numbers than laptops, so we would quickly reach a point where the “free” chips start to run out, and the savings are lost. Do I think customers like the idea of a $399 iPhone Neo? Of course. But do I think they would like the actual iPhone Apple would make at that price, reflecting component costs and the need to make a profit? No. Steve Jobs famously said that innovation is saying no to 1,000 things: turning down good ideas and focusing on the right ideas. The iPhone Neo is a lovely idea, but someone needs to say no.

Read more »

Law Firms Grapple With Hallucinated Legal Logic, Shadow AI
AI-generated legal hallucinations are increasingly leading to sanctions, delayed cases, and governance concerns as courts and law firms struggle to control unauthorized AI use and fabricated legal reasoning. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

Read more »

Spotify adopting Apple’s new video podcast tech for easier cross-platform publishing
Spotify is making two video podcast announcements today, including one related to Apple’s big video podcast enhancement. more…

Read more »

Forget iPhone 20, Apple's 2028 curved display will be even better
With Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone expected to boast a new, curvier display, it's now reported that the 2028 iPhone's display will be even more advanced.iPhone 20 is tipped to get a new, quad-curved OLED displayReports have heavily claimed the 2027 iPhone will feature a new micro-curved OLED display to celebrate its 20th year. Now, a new ET News report claims Apple's suppliers are already planning for what comes next.The iPhone 21, set to be announced a year later, will iterate on its predecessor's "four-edge bending" display. It's said that Apple will use a new transparent electrode technology, with both Samsung Display and LG Display ready to use it. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

What is nano-texture glass and do I need it?
Macworld On some Apple products, including the M4 iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro, a feature called nano-texture glass is available. This is something that was first introduced on Apple’s Pro Display XDR, before coming to other Apple products beginning with the long-discontinued 27-inch iMac. So, what is it, and should you spend hundreds more to have it adorn your screen? What is nano-texture glass? Glare is often a problem in brightly lit offices and homes, which can render the large, glossy displays little more than hugely elaborate mirrors. One option it to choose a display with a coating to give it a matte finish, but that is not without disadvantages. Apple’s solution to the problem is nano-texture glass, which drastically reduces glare while avoiding the frostiness and washed-out colors that are often the compromise made when opting for a matte finish. It’s all thanks to some clever design and a meticulous process that results in displays that can happily cope with bright light sources. The nano-texture glass surface is etched in such a way as to scatter the light that falls on it so that the image quality isn’t affected and the user experiences no glare and reflections. How does nano-texture glass work? One of the main causes of glare is light from lamps, windows, and other sources reflecting back at you due to the smooth surfaces of modern displays. Matte finishes combat this by having some kind of coating on the display that diffuses or breaks down the light due to its more angular surface. Sadly, this works both ways, so the light emanating from the display itself is also altered, resulting in the murkier results that usually accompany the technique. Apple has taken things to the next level by foregoing a coating and instead physically altering the surface itself through tiny (nano) etchings. The pattern of the etchings means that light rays hitting the display are reflected off at a range of angles, eradicating most of the glare in the process. The very clever part is that this somehow doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on the onscreen display. Of course, making all those microscopic etches in the glass is a precision job, which is why it costs more. For example, to get nano-texture glass on the iMac, you’ll need to get a higher-end model and pay an additional $200, while the cost for the M5 MacBook Pro is $150 and the M5 iPad Pro is $100 more than the standard glass (though it’s only available with 1TB or 2TB of storage). Add nano-texture glass to your Apple Studio Display and you’ll be paying an extra $300! Apple How can I clean nano-texture glass? One of the quirks of Apple’s new Nano-texture glass display is that the company insists it should only be cleaned using a specific Apple cloth. One is included with every display, but we’re not entirely sure what magic ingredients make it such a special piece of fabric. in a scratch test performed by YourTube channel JerryRigEverything, scratches appeared with little effort on the nano-texture glass and began to file down “like a cheese grater on cheese” with less pressure than regular glass. He also found that regular cloths and paper towels performed well when cleaning the glass. However, if you’ve just forked out a couple hundred bucks for a high-end display technology, it’s probably a good idea to follow Apple’s instructions and spend a little extra on a high-quality cloth. How durable is nano-texture glass? Nano-texture glass is as durable as standard glass. Since it doesn’t have a coating, there shouldn’t be any noticeable wear from regular use, however as noted by JerryRigEverything’s testing above, it does scratch easier than normal glass. His testing found that some objects that left no markings on regular glass created permanent marks on the nano-texture glass. Which Apple devices have nano-texture glass options? iPad Pro The nano-texture glass is available with the 1TB and 2TB iPad Pro models, for an additional $100/£100 on the usual price. Buy from Apple US Save money at Amazon US Buy from Apple UK Save money at Amazon UK MacBook Pro The nano-texture glass is available with all MacBook Pro models, for an additional $150/£150 on the usual price. For some reason, adding nano glass is not an option when buying a MacBook Pro from Amazon. Buy from Apple US Buy from Apple UK iMac The nano-texture glass is available with all but the cheapest iMac model. It’s an additional $200/£200 on the usual price. Buy from Apple US Save money at Amazon US Buy from Apple UK Save money at Amazon UK Studio Display Prepare to dig deep when adding nan-texture glass to Apple’s displays. The option is an additional $300/£300 on the usual price. Buy from Apple US Save money at Amazon US Buy from Apple UK Save money at Amazon UK Studio Display XDR In the case of Apple’s Studio Display XDR the nano-texture glass adds $300/£300 onto the price. Buy from Apple US Save money at Amazon US Buy from Apple UK Save money at Amazon UK Should I get nano-texture glass on my Apple device? The main reason for adding on the costly nano-texture glass feature is if you are struggling with glare—for example, if you use your iMac or Studio Display in a room with bright overhead lights or work outside on your iPad Pro. You will lose some contrast at certain angles, but if you’re consistently struggling to see your screen in bright light, or need to be absolutely confident that colors appear accurately, it will definitely be worth the money. iPad Pro users will be interested in ano-texture glass as it offers a better tactile feel for artists and note-takers that leads to a superior writing and drawing experience by providing a subtle texture that mimics paper better than slippery glass. Fingerprints and oil smudges on matte displays are also less noticeable compared to glossy displays.

Read more »

Evercore tells investors to stick with Apple, raising price target to $365
Analysts at investment firm Evercore believe that Apple Intelligence will be a long-term boon for the company, prompting it to raise its target by $35 to $365.An improved Siri could pay off for Apple, eventually - Image Credit: AppleEvercore isn't the first firm to bet on Apple Intelligence's future, as Wedbush recently raised its target price to a record $400 on the same expectation. Plus Evercore has remained steadily bullish on Apple, with this latest rise being its fifth since September 2025.Now in a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, Evercore has analysed every aspect of Apple and its potential in more than 100 pages. It's the sixth year that Evercore has done this deep dive, and the headline for 2026 is that investors should be looking longer term on Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Desperate Trump taps “Tim Apple,” Jensen Huang, Elon Musk to attend Xi summit
Xi meeting may force Trump to pivot on semiconductor tariffs and Taiwan.

Read more »

Google just helped Apple sell a million more MacBook Neos
Macworld Google isn’t shy about experimenting with wacky concepts. The company is well known for releasing and killing dozens of products each year, with its virtual graveyard now housing more than 300 of them. Its latest public beta test arrived this week: an AI-powered Chromebook dubbed the Googlebook. Googlebooks, not to be confused with Google Books, Alphabet’s ebook storefront, are a new line of premium laptops with Gemini Intelligence at their core. Launching this fall, the devices will offer five distinct features in what Google hopes will set a new standard in desktop computing. The whole concept appears to be a response to the threat Apple’s MacBook Neo poses, updating the Chromebook brand with modern architecture and features.  A closer look at Google’s announcement and marketing materials, however, reveals how the new brand suffers from an identity crisis. The Googlebook seems to be missing a clear direction or purpose, and it risks further increasing the decades-old device fragmentation that plagues Android. With Chromebooks, customers knew what they were getting, but with the Googlebook, that’s not really the case. Rather than keeping users from jumping to Apple, Google seems to be making the decision to buy a MacBook Neo easier than ever. Sticky software situation Like the Chromebook, the Googlebook’s key selling point is its software. The laptop will run an upgraded variant of ChromeOS, featuring native AI integrations. The marquee feature, according to Google, is Magic Pointer, which triggers Gemini to answer questions and perform tasks. So, if you circle a date in an email, for example, you’ll be able to directly add a relevant event in the Calendar app. You could also mouse over multiple images and have Gemini generate a mashup, or hover over a series of numbers to instantly create a chart. Google’s new Magic Pointer is a fancy version of what Mac users can already do.Google It’s all very slick, but Magic Pointer isn’t really an original concept. macOS has long allowed users to instantly create Calendar events by selecting dates detected in text and images. And Apple Intelligence already allows you to inquire about on-screen elements using the native ChatGPT integration (and soon, new Siri). As for fusing images using AI, most desktop users don’t need a tool like this on a daily basis, and the ones who do could easily upload the desired images to ChatGPT or Gemini and prompt them to make the needed adjustments. Beyond AI, the Googlebook’s OS is essentially an AI-upgraded version of ChromeOS. As such, it suffers from the same main restrictions found in Chromebooks, which include the limited library of professional desktop tools, while alienating users who need a stripped-down, lightweight UI. It’s not the comprehensive desktop operating system you get with a MacBook Neo. It’s also worth noting that the Googlebook will require an active internet connection for the AI features to work. This suggests that the Magic Pointer could’ve easily been implemented in existing Chromebook models through a basic OS update. The new brand seemingly doesn’t bundle any meaningful hardware upgrades that warrant the exclusivity. It’s almost like Google is desperately searching for new ways to force the AI buzzword onto its products. AI-designed widgets The second Googlebook highlight is support for creating custom widgets using AI. For instance, you could ask Gemini to build a widget for your upcoming vacation, which would compile personal data, including relevant reservations, photos, a countdown timer, and so on. The MacBook Neo already supports desktop widgets, allowing users to add small data bites from their favorite apps. And users can create custom widgets that incorporate different elements using third-party apps. While macOS widgets may not be as intuitive or personalized as asking an AI chatbot, they work effectively. Plus, how often does one change their desktop layout and create or add new widgets? You’ll be able to access your Android apps on your Googlebooks—just like iPhone users can do with MacBook Neo.Google Limited phone mirroring Speaking of software, Googlebooks also support nearby Android phones. MacBook Neo users are probably familiar with iPhone Mirroring, Apple’s version of the feature. With an iPhone nearby, you can easily access a live view of your notifications, Live Activities, apps, and widgets—right on your Mac’s screen. Based on Google’s demo, Googlebook’s implementation of phone mirroring appears to be more restricted. While notification forwarding is supported, users seemingly can’t launch and interact with a virtual view of their phone. Instead, it limits you to opening apps installed on it. It’s more like app mirroring than phone mirroring, and it gives users less control over the actions they can perform on their smartphones using their laptops. Wireless file access Wireless file access is another Googlebook perk. The feature allows you to instantly browse your Android phone’s local files from your laptop. While handy, Apple already offers convenient file syncing and sharing, as well as an array of Continuity tools on iOS and macOS. Many Apple users store all of their iPhone files on iCloud, which, by default, makes them and any tweaks they make available on their Macs at all times (and vice versa). For larger local files, AirDrop is a solid tool that utilizes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct for swift data transfer. You can also copy and paste text and images between iOS and macOS, or drag and drop files between an iPad and a Mac. By opting for a MacBook Neo, you’re not really missing out on much here. Google is embracing wireless file sharing with Googlebooks.Google Premium branding The Googlebook’s final highlight is its premium build, which probably means they’ll cost more than the standard Chromebook. Even if they look and feel as good as a MacBook Neo, it’s doubtful Googlebooks will be able to undercut Apple’s laptop on price.  That’s Google’s main advantage over the Neo. Many customers tolerate Chromebooks’ limitations because of their affordability. Giving Googlebooks a premium quality while maintaining the constrained operating system doesn’t justify the increased costs.  And given that the MacBook Neo can already do everything a Googlebook can at a mere $599 (or $499 for students), it seems more likely that Google will be pushing people toward the Neo, not away from it.

Read more »

Tim Cook is back in China, this time with Trump and Elon Musk
US executives from Apple, Tesla, Boeing and more, have accompanied Trump on a visit to Beijing to visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.Tim Cook (left) with Donald Trump in a previous meeting — image credit: CNBCApple CEO Tim Cook has left his successor, John Ternus, minding the store as he once again visits China. Rather than representing Apple per se, though, Cook is one of around a dozen senior US businesspeople invited to join Trump on his trip.Cook reportedly did not travel with Trump on Air Force One. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, he has now been pictured at China's welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

How to connect two or more external displays to an M1, M2, M3, M4 or M5 MacBook or Neo
Macworld While the higher-end MacBooks with M1/M2/M3/M4/M5 Pro and Max chips support multiple external displays, Apple’s lower-end range of MacBooks that use a standard M1 and M2 processor cannot natively connect more than one external monitor, and to do so the M3 has to have its lid closed. The MacBook Neo is also limited to just one external monitor. This is a massive limitation for these entry-level Macs: M1 MacBook, M2 MacBook and MacBook Neo. Apple’s M3 MacBook Air models do support two external monitors but only if the MacBook has its lid closed in what is known as Clamshell Mode. The M3 MacBook Pro supports a similar feature if at least the macOS Sonoma 14.6 update is installed. We explain how to run dual external displays on an M3 MacBook in a separate article. Who will these Mac external monitor tips help? • If your Mac has a plain (non-Pro or non-Max) M1 or M2 chip, or is the MacBook Neo, it is limited to using just one external monitor unless you follow our tips and workaround here. • If your Mac has a plain (non-Pro or non-Max) M3 chip, it can only use two external monitors if its own lid is closed (so not showing its own screen) unless you follow our tips and workaround here. • If your Mac has an M4, M5, M4 Pro, M4 Max chip, it is limited to using two external monitors – add up to five using the workarounds. • If your Mac has an M5 Pro chip, it is limited to using three external monitors – add up to five using the workarounds. • If your Mac has an M5 Max chip, it is limited to using four external monitors – add up to five using the workarounds. The solutions below, however, allow for more than two external displays on plain M1, M2 Macs and MacBook Neo plus M3 Macs with their lids open if you want it. The base M4/M5 MacBook Air and M4/M5 MacBook Pro models do natively support two displays with the lid open but if you want three or more displays for these MacBooks, then keep reading. In each case, there’s a software download and a docking station, hub or adapter required.  Later, we list our tested and recommended software and hardware solutions for adding more than one display to the plain M1, M2 and M3 Macs, plus MacBook Neo. You can jump straight to our list of the best DisplayLink docks if you know all about it. If not, read on a while. The simplest solution is to get a USB graphics-enabled docking station or hub, sometimes called a DisplayLink Dock—and we’ve reviewed the best ones later in this article. USB graphics is a software-based technology (DisplayLink or InstantView) that compresses the video signals from the computer to the monitor, enabling you to connect multiple external displays to your M1/M2/M3 or Neo MacBook. We cover the basics of how to connect your Mac to an external monitor. Desktop Macs can be helped, too. While the M1, M2 and Neo MacBooks natively support just one monitor, the desktop M1 Mac Mini and M2 Mac Mini do natively support up to two external monitors—one via the HDMI port and a second via USB-C. The M4 Mac mini supports up to three displays—two displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one display with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K resolution at 60Hz over HDMI. Workaround: Install DisplayLink software drivers You can use a combination of display technologies to get around the M1/M2/M3/Neo MacBooks’ single-monitor limitation. DisplayLink is the most common software solution that you pair with a compatible dock, and SiliconMotion’s InstantView is another. Note that the docks need to state DisplayLink or InstantView compatibility—you can’t just install DisplayLink drivers and hope they work with regular docks and hubs. Here, we’ll refer to them all as DisplayLink docks for brevity. DisplayLink enable adapters or docks to output video over USB ports that would otherwise support only data connections, bypassing limitations on the number of screens a Mac can support natively (for example, the single-display limitation on base M1, M2, M3, and Neo Macs). Many multi-display docks use a combination of native USB-C Alternate Mode (native “Alt Mode” video output) and DisplayLink technology. This combination serves as a workaround to the M1/M2/M3/Neo platform supporting only a single external display via USB-C. Note that DisplayLink requires a third-party driver to be installed on the Mac. In general, setup is straightforward. Some of the docks we review below offer the DisplayLink software when you first connect the dock to your Mac. The DisplayLink macOS app or DisplayLink Manager app are ways of enabling DisplayLink technology on macOS. The app is available as a standalone installer rather than through the mac App Store. There are download versions for macOS 26 Tahoe and earlier. The initial InstantView setup is easier than DisplayLink with the hubs from Hyper and Satechi—but it suffers the same challenge that Apple’s software updates could disable it, which will entail installing a newer version and allowing the necessary security & privacy settings for screen recording, just as with DisplayLink. You can download the latest version of InstantView software here. The latest version supports macOS 26 Tahoe, 15 Sequoia, 14 Sonoma, 13 Ventura and 12 Monterey. Neither software solution is complicated and both worked well in our tests as you can read below. There are some disadvantages to using DisplayLink and InstantView, which we explain in detail in the FAQ section below the dock chart, but none that should bother most users. This docking station supports three external displays via DisplayLink, while still allowing the MacBook to show its independent screen. 1. First, download the latest Mac DisplayLink driver. As stated above, some docks, do this for you but it’s always best to use the latest version. DisplayLink Manager Graphics Connectivity App v. 15.1 is compatible with macOS Sonoma 14, Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26. For macOS Ventura 13, you need version 15; and for Monterey 12, it’s version 1.11; for Big Sur 11, look for version 1.9, and v1.5 for Catalina 10.15. It can be managed via the DisplayLink icon in the Apple Menu bar. Here’s the one fiddly part: you need to enable “Screen Recording” to allow the DisplayLink Manager app to capture pixels and send them to your USB peripheral. This can be found in System Preferences under Privacy in Security & Privacy; navigate to Screen Recording in the list on the left, then tick the Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager after unlocking the padlock using your admin password. You may need to quit and restart DisplayLink Manager afterward. Don’t worry, DisplayLink isn’t recording your screen—this just lets it do its magic enabling multiple screens. Installation is straightforward; take a look at the instructions here. Older versions did not support laptops’ closed-display/Clamshell Mode, but 1.8.1 and later do support Clamshell Mode if the MacBook is running macOS 11 or later. There’s an option in DisplayLink manager to “launch at startup”, or you can drag the DisplayLink Manager to your Login Items in Users & Groups. 2. Then connect the MacBook to a DIsplayLink docking station—the dock must support DisplayLink, as all the reviewed products listed below do. 3. For the first screen you can connect via the dock’s DisplayPort, HDMI or USB-C/Thunderbolt port, and this will be handled natively by the M1/M2 MacBook. If you need to, you can use a USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter. The HDMI or DisplayPort output uses Alternate Mode (Alt Mode), and as it is basically a pipeline directly to the system’s native GPU, it will behave just like if you hooked up a USB-C to HDMI dongle to your laptop. This requires no user driver installation. The second and third displays will rely on the DisplayLink software. DisplayLink uses an installed driver and the system CPU and GPU to convert graphics data on the system into data packets. That data is then sent over the cable as data packets and converted back to video information and output to the monitors via the DisplayLink chip in the docking station. Which dock is best? A docking station connects to your MacBook via Thunderbolt or USB-C. It then offers multiple ports that your laptop now has access to. These can include new display ports, such as HDMI, as well as Ethernet for wired Internet access, USB-C/Thunderbolt/USB-A ports at varying speeds, audio plugs, and card readers. A simpler hub or adapter has fewer ports but may have all the video or USB ports required. The main thing to remember here is that the dock, hub or adapter needs to support either DisplayLink or InstantView for the extra multi-screen magic to work. Non-DisplayLink docking stations are great if your MacBook can handle the number of screens you desire but you need more ports and functionality. Docking station and hub manufacturers are now actively marketing their products as solutions to the M1/M2/M3/Neo external display limitation—docks have to support DisplayLink to work with the software. All the docks and hubs reviewed below require either the DisplayLink download or another similar software solution, such as InstantView, but no further hardware adapter except for the dock or hub itself. And of course, these hubs offer the usual multi-port benefits as well as the external monitor solution. The best multiscreen hubs and adapters for Neo, M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 MacBooks Below we have gathered the best dedicated hubs and docks for multiscreen M1/M2/M3/M4/M5/Neo. Note that most of these listed (and tested) below use USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so don’t benefit from the MacBook’s potential pro-level 40-80Gbps data bandwidth but are usually cheaper. If you require bandwidth higher than 10Gbps, go for a DisplayLink-supporting Thunderbolt dock. The MacBook Neo has USB-C rather than Thunderbolt so is limited to 10Gbps anyway but can use the Thunderbolt docks, too if you like as USB-C and Thunderbolt are compatible.. We have tested DisplayLink docks that can support up to five external displays and some that max out at two, which we expect will be plenty enough screen space for most people. You can use a five-screen DisplayLink dock even if you need only two monitors, and use the spare ports for other purposes. Plugable 5 Display USB-C Dock (UD-7400PD) – five 4K displays at 60Hz Pros Supports up to five external displays at 4K 60Hz 3x 8K at 60Hz displays 11 ports 2x HDMI video ports 140W PD laptop charging 2.5Gb Ethernet Cons No SD card reader North America only Price When Reviewed: $279.95 Best Prices Today: $293.95 at Amazon$293.95 at Walmart$296.99 at B&H Connection: USB-C (10Gbps) Software: DisplayLink Max screens: 5 Let’s begin with the DisplayLink dock that supports the most external displays: the Plugable UD-7400PD allows even M1 MacBook and Neo users to run up to five 4K displays at a 60Hz refresh rate. This is made possible by use of the latest Synaptics’ DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset. No other dock can match it. Although five displays is probably overkill for most users, financial and data analysts can’t have enough screens and will love it. You don’t have to add five displays, of course, but this dock is the one that will let you do so. It even offers something to the mighty M5 Max MacBook that can natively support four external displays; with the Plugable UD-7400PD it can move to five. There are two HDMI ports (one HDMI 2.1 for 8K and one 2.0) plus three downstream USB-C ports to connect either those displays or other devices. There are two fast 10Gbps USB-A ports, speedy 2.5Gb Ethernet and an audio jack, but no SD card reader. At the front of the dock, one of the USB-C ports can output power to a connected device at 30W, which is perfect if you want to fast-charge an iPhone or even an iPad. If you need faster bandwidth, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink (reviewed below) boasts 40Gbps data transfer and supports four displays for the M3 MacBook Air (while shut in Clamshell Mode), but with it the M1 and M2 MacBooks are limited to three (one at 6K and two at 4K).  IT managers will appreciate Plugable’s DockTag technology that works with the UD-7400PD, a web-based solution designed for hot-desking and real-time IT asset management in mixed-platform offices. Read our full Plugable 5 Display USB-C Dock (UD-7400PD) review

Read more »

Pay once, scan forever—iScanner App lifetime access is $25 today
Macworld TL;DR: The iScanner App turns your iPhone, iPad, or Android device into a powerful all-in-one PDF scanner for a one-time $24.97 payment (MSRP $199.90). It takes a special kind of person to figure out how to scan a document using three random apps, a Notes workaround, and pure determination. But no one should have to. Right now, the iScanner App Lifetime Subscription is available for a one-time $24.97 (reg. $199.90), and it feels like one of those life-altering productivity purchases that you wish you’d done sooner. iScanner turns your phone into a surprisingly legit portable document station. You can scan receipts, contracts, IDs, handwritten notes, books, forms, business paperwork, and more. The app automatically detects document borders, straightens pages, removes shadows and weird lighting, and converts files into PDFs, JPGs, DOCs, XLS files, PowerPoints, and more. It also includes OCR text recognition in 20+ languages, which means scanned documents become searchable and editable instead of trapped forever as blurry photo files. And because this is more than a basic scanner app, you also get built-in editing tools, e-signatures, watermarking, password protection, and more directly from your phone. There’s even a math-solving mode and automatic object-counting feature, which feels slightly unnecessary until the exact moment you need it. Don’t miss grabbing lifetime access to iScanner for a one-time $24.97 (reg. $199.90). iScanner App: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Macworld Podcast: iOS 26.5 new features, Apple Watch rumors
Macworld xOS 26.5 is now available. What are the new features? Plus, we talk about Apple Watch rumors in this episode of the Macworld Podcast.  This is episode 983 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross, and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 983 on YouTube Listen to episode 983 on Apple Podcasts

Read more »

Apple TV renews ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ for season 2 ahead of next week’s finale
Following a strong first season with critics and viewers alike, Apple has confirmed that ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ will return for season two. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Apple TV renews ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ for season 2 ahead of next week’s finale
Following a strong first season with critics and viewers alike, Apple has confirmed that ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ will return for season two. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Safari 26.5 fixes WebKit bugs that could crash Safari or expose user data
Apple has published the full list of security fixes for Safari 26.5, including a WebKit vulnerability that could let maliciously crafted web content disclose sensitive user information. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Apple Extends Notification Privacy Fix to iOS 15, iOS 16, and iPadOS 17
If your iPhone or iPad is too old to run iOS 18 or later, Apple hasn’t forgotten you—new updates for iOS 15, iOS 16, and iPadOS 17 patch the notification retention flaw that could expose deleted messages.

Read more »

Apple counters US smartphone decline as iPhone sales grow: report
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple outperformed the broader US smartphone market in Q1, helped by continued iPhone 17 demand amid weakening Android sales. Here are the details. more…

Read more »