OpenAI has new voice models that reason, translate, and transcribe as you speak
OpenAI has just released three new realtime voice models that it says will “unlock a new class of voice apps for developers.” Each new voice intelligence model has a unique speciality for different purposes. more…

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Apple’s R&D investments surpass 10% of sales as AI race creates ‘sense of urgency’
Apple’s R&D spending reached 10.3% of revenue in the March quarter as the company accelerates its investments in artificial intelligence. The post Apple’s R&D investments surpass 10% of sales as AI race creates ‘sense of urgency’ appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple published a new Press Release
Apple just published a new Press Release:How filmmakers are redefining the art form with MAMI Select: Filmed on iPhone

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New Apple TV 4K adding AI might look like this Netflix feature
A new Apple TV 4K is rumored to launch this fall with AI support, and the latest Netflix feature offers a helpful example of how AI might benefit the Apple TV. more…

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Philips Hue smart lights will soon be able to react to live sports events in real-time
Signify, the company behind Philips Hue and WiZ smart lights, is launching a new Sports Live feature that connects lighting effects to real-time live sports data. The new feature will arrive in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff in June. more…

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Hands-on: Lexar ES5 brings MagSafe convenience and ProRes SSD speeds to your iPhone
When Apple first introduced MagSafe in the iPhone 12 lineup, I knew it was going to be a hit. It immediately allowed for a modular accessory ecosystem to flourish for the iPhone. But then they gave us USB-C, and that opened the floodgates. Between MagSafe and USB-C, the type of accessories you could mount to your iPhone was basically limitless. One of the coolest examples of that is the Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD. Spending some time using the ES5 alongside the Blackmagic Camera app, I can confidently say this is one of the more practical MagSafe storage accessories I have tested recently. Here is what you should know. more…

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Apple Original Films debuts trailer for John Travolta’s ‘Propeller One-Way Night Coach’
Apple Original Films on Wednesday unveiled the trailerfor “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” written, directed, and narrated by John Travolta… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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How to reset the NVRAM, PRAM, and SMC on any Mac
Macworld When your Mac starts acting up, you’ll probably run through some common troubleshooting procedures, such as restarting it, running Disk Utility, and perhaps performing a Safe Boot. Your repair repertoire should also include a couple of additional procedures that can occasionally eliminate otherwise inscrutable problems: zapping the NVRAM and resetting the SMC. The procedures here apply to Intel-based Macs. M-Series Macs don’t have a procedure for zapping the NVRAM, and they don’t have an SMC. For M-series Macs, try shutting down the computer, waiting for several seconds, and then booting it. What is PRAM? Back in the day, the standard list of quick fixes for random Mac ailments always included clearing the PRAM. The “P” in PRAM stands for “parameter” (“RAM” is random access memory), and it refers to a small amount of special, battery-backed memory in every Mac that stores information the computer needs before it loads the operating system. If the values in this memory got out of whack for one reason or another, your Mac might not start up correctly or might exhibit any of numerous odd behaviors afterward. You could press a key sequence at startup to reset (or “zap”) the PRAM, returning it to default, factory values. What is NVRAM? Modern Macs no longer use PRAM; they instead use something called NVRAM (“NV” for non-volatile). NVRAM serves approximately the same purpose as PRAM, but instead of storing a dozen or more pieces of information, it now contains just a few: your selected startup disk, speaker volume, screen resolution, time zone, and—if your Mac has crashed recently—details of the last kernel panic. NVRAM corruption is fairly uncommon, but if your Mac seems to take forever to figure out the correct boot disc, starts up with the wrong screen resolution, or suffers from weird audio problems (like there’s no sound whatsoever or the menu bar’s volume control is grayed out), a reset of the NVRAM might help—it’s quick and harmless. When should you reset NVRAM? If you notice that your Mac settings continuously get thrown out of whack, it might be time to reset the NVRAM. For example, if you notice that your screen resolution or sound volume never stays at the setting you want, or the date and time are always wrong. If you notice annoying problems that don’t get fixed by adjusting your settings, or your settings never seem to take, try resetting the NVRAM. Is it safe to reset the NVRAM? When you reset the NVRAM, your Mac will revert to factory default settings. It’s safe in the sense that it does not harm the Mac, but you might think of it as “unsafe” in that any customization you’ve done to the system settings may be lost. You may have to go back and reinstate some of those settings. How reset NRAM M-series Macs On M-series Macs, the NVRAM is tested during the startup process, and if the system detects a need to reset, it will. There isn’t a key combination that you hold down while starting up the Mac. If you would like the system to inspect the NVRAM on an M-series Mac, shut it down completely, wait a few seconds, and then power up the Mac. Intel Macs To reset your NVRAM, you use exactly the same procedure you once used to reset PRAM. Shut down your Mac. Press the power button, and as soon as you power up the laptop, hold down Command-Option-P-R. Keep holding down those keys for about 20 seconds. Then let go and allow your Mac to continue starting normally. If you have an older Mac that chimes at boot, hold down the keys until you hear a second startup chime.  Then check the Startup Disk, Display, and Date & Time panes of System Preferences to make sure they’re set the way you want them. If you hold down Command-Option-P-R at startup and you see nothing but a gray screen that doesn’t change for several minutes—no Apple logo, no progress bar, no second startup chime—don’t panic. The most likely cause is that your Mac isn’t registering the key presses due to wonkiness with a USB device. Disconnect all USB devices (except your keyboard, if it’s a wired keyboard), hold the power button down until the Mac shuts off completely, and then press it again and immediately hold down Command-Option-P-R. If that doesn’t work and you’re using an external Bluetooth keyboard, try plugging in a USB keyboard instead. If you’re able to reset the NVRAM successfully with the wired keyboard, you can disconnect it and go back to your normal Bluetooth keyboard. Terminal More advanced users can try using the Terminal to reset to NVRAM, though if you’ve reached this option the problem is likely bigger than resetting NVRAM. And as with all Terminal commands, the usual caveats apply: You’re messing with macOS’s bash shell and could do irrevocable damage with the wrong keystroke. But if you’d like to try, you can type the following command into a new Terminal window: nvram ​-c After running the command, restart your Mac so the changes can take effect. What is SMC? Yet another component of an Intel Mac’s hardware that stores crucial settings is the System Management Controller (SMC). This circuit deals with power management, temperature monitoring and fan control, status lights, keyboard backlights, and a few other components. What should you rest the SMC? If your SMC becomes confused, you could experience problems like excessive fan noise, slow performance even though Activity Monitor doesn’t show the CPU being overtaxed, apps that take forever to launch, batteries that don’t charge correctly, problems with sleep or wake, and so on. (You can see a longer list on this Apple support page.) As with zapping the NVRAM, resetting the SMC to factory defaults may resolve these problems. Is it safe to reset the SMC? It is safe to reset the SMC. You should check your Battery system preferences afterward to see if your customizations have been maintained. How to reset the SMC M-series Macs M-series Macs don’t have a System Management Controller (SMC). The functions the SMC handled are now handled by the M chip itself. Postings on Apple’s forums suggest shutting down an M-series Mac completely and leaving it off for 30 seconds to perform something like an SMC reset. After 30 seconds, power on the Mac. If your problems persist, you can try reinstalling the M-series Mac’s firmware. It’s a procedure that’s a little more complicated than what you might be used to. You need another Mac with the Apple Configurator 2 app installed, a USB-C cable that supports both power and data (used to connect the two Macs), and an internet connection. Apple has the full details on how to revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon with Apple Configurator 2. Intel Macs Apple says you shouldn’t reset the SMC without first trying other troubleshooting tasks, such as force-quitting problematic apps and restarting your Mac. However, Apple doesn’t mention any negative consequences of resetting the SMC, nor any way to determine for sure if the SMC is glitchy without resetting it and noticing that the problem went away. We’ve reset my Macs’ SMCs many times with no apparent ill effects, and on one occasion that did turn out to be the solution to a problem. Before you can reset your SMC, you must shut down your Mac. After that, the procedure varies depending on the type of Mac you have. Desktop Macs: Disconnect the power cord (either from the Mac or from the AC outlet). Wait 15 seconds and plug it back in. Then wait another 5 seconds and turn the Mac back on. Laptops with the T2 chip: Shut down. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it. After a few seconds, press the power button to turn on your Mac. If this doesn’t reset the SMC, shut down. On the laptop keyboard, press and hold Control-Option-Shift (your Mac might turn on). Hold these keys for 7 seconds, then press and hold the power button. If your Mac is on, it will turn off while you hold down the keys for another 7 seconds. Then release the keys, wait a few seconds and turn on the laptop. Laptops (no T2 chip) with non-removable batteries: Shut down and unplug your Mac. On the built-in keyboard, press and hold the Shift, Option, and Control keys on the left side and press the power button and hold all of these down for 10 seconds, then release the keys. Connect the power adapter and then turn the Mac on normally. Laptops (no T2 chip) with removable batteries: Shut down your Mac. Disconnect the power cord and remove the battery. Press the power button, hold it for 5 seconds, and then let go. Put the battery back in, reconnect the power cord, and turn the Mac on normally. Although neither of these procedures is a guaranteed cure, both of them can solve a number of odd problems, and are worth a few minutes of your time before hauling your Mac in to see the local Apple Genius. Terminal There is no Terminal command for resetting the SMC.

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iOS 26.5: Five new iPhone features are coming next week
We’re just weeks away from iOS 27’s unveiling, but Apple has another iPhone update arriving first. iOS 26.5 is coming next week, here are five new features it will bring. more…

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iOS 26.5: Five new iPhone features are coming next week
We’re just weeks away from iOS 27’s unveiling, but Apple has another iPhone update arriving first. iOS 26.5 is coming next week, here are five new features it will bring. more…

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Anthropic updates Claude Managed Agents with three new features
Anthropic launched Claude Managed Agents last month, greatly simplifying the work required to build and deploy cloud-hosted AI agents. This week, Claude Managed Agents are becoming more capable with three new features. more…

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Anthropic updates Claude Managed Agents with three new features
Anthropic launched Claude Managed Agents last month, greatly simplifying the work required to build and deploy cloud-hosted AI agents. This week, Claude Managed Agents are becoming more capable with three new features. more…

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Deals: AirPods, Apple MagSafe Battery 40% off, 512GB M5 MacBook Air $220 off, entry M5 Pro $250 off, Studio Display, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are now ready to roll, and alongside this week’s AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2 discounts still rolling with delivery before Mother’s Day, we are also tracking another chance to land the best deal ever on the official Apple iPhone Air MagSafe Battery at nearly 40% off the list price (could jump back up in price at any time). From there we move on to a particularly notable deal on this 24GB 15-inch M5 MacBook Air at $220 off (this is the more affordable 512GB model this time) as well as Apple’s most accessible M5 Pro MacBook Pro sitting at all-time low pricing today with $250 off the list. These deals join loads of official Apple accessories on sale this week from $6 – AirTag, cables, Magic Mouse, and more – as well as the most affordable 2026 Apple Studio Display back at Amazon low pricing (now $100 off). Everything else awaits below.  more…

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Deals: AirPods, Apple MagSafe Battery 40% off, 512GB M5 MacBook Air $220 off, entry M5 Pro $250 off, Studio Display, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are now ready to roll, and alongside this week’s AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, and AirPods Max 2 discounts still rolling with delivery before Mother’s Day, we are also tracking another chance to land the best deal ever on the official Apple iPhone Air MagSafe Battery at nearly 40% off the list price (could jump back up in price at any time). From there we move on to a particularly notable deal on this 24GB 15-inch M5 MacBook Air at $220 off (this is the more affordable 512GB model this time) as well as Apple’s most accessible M5 Pro MacBook Pro sitting at all-time low pricing today with $250 off the list. These deals join loads of official Apple accessories on sale this week from $6 – AirTag, cables, Magic Mouse, and more – as well as the most affordable 2026 Apple Studio Display back at Amazon low pricing (now $100 off). Everything else awaits below.  more…

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Apple II classic franchise 'Wizardry' bought by similarly classic Atari
This one is for some of our long-time readers. Atari, yes, that Atari, has bought the rights to early "Wizardry" games.The author's WIzardry box. Not his original, that one is lost to timeI get asked a lot how I got started using Apple products. Specifically, it was an Apple II in the late seventies, no plus, e, C, or GS. Amongst the early titles gifted to young me was the original Wizardry.That was in eighth grade, for graduation. I'm sure some high school grades suffered from having it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How 4 Swift Student Challenge winners brought great app ideas to life
This year's Swift Student Challenge winners used developer tools and AI assistance to address a range of important challenges. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Watch now available with discounted education pricing in select markets
Apple is rolling out a big change to the Education Store today. For the first time, the Apple Watch is now available with a discount for students and teachers in select markets. Apple is also expanding verification requirements to use the Education Store to new markets … more…

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Students & teachers can get educational pricing on Apple Watch
Apple has updated its education pricing in several countries, primarily in Asia, to offer educators and students discounts on Apple Watch for the first time.Apple Watch joins iPad and Mac for education pricing in select countriesStarting on May 7, Apple Store will now offer discounted pricing on Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to qualifying users. They include faculty and staff of higher education institutions as well as students who are enrolled or accepted into said institutions.The new Apple Watch pricing is not available globally, however. As of May 7 at 11 AM ET, It's only available in: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Today in Apple history: Apple PR guru Katie Cotton steps down
On May 7, 2014, Katie Cotton -- the fearsome, much-admired head of Apple worldwide publicity -- stepped down from her VP post after 18 years. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple's Swift Student Challenge winners bring their apps to life with AI
Apple has chosen 350 winning Swift Student Challenge winners from around the globe while detailing four distinguished winners and their apps.Winners of the 2026 Swift Student Challenge have been announced.Apple announced that the annual Swift Student Challenge saw people from 37 different countries and regions chosen as winners. Of those 350, 50 have been invited to attend the company's WWDC event in June, 2026.But while there are dozens of winners this year, Apple took time to call out four in particular. The four young app developers used their apps to help with real-world problems, from creating artwork with tremors to escaping a flood zone. Apple also noted the use of AI during development. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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