Google denies copying Liquid Glass, but nobody’s buying it
Macworld Google has posted a promo for its annual I/O developer conference, which takes place this year on May 12. But a lot of the responses are focusing on exactly the wrong thing: the promo video looks an awful lot like Apple’s Liquid Glass interface aesthetic. “Biggest. Android. Updates. Ever,” wrote Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat in a post to X/Twitter this week. “You won’t want to miss it.” Good advice; you never know what ideas you might pick up. And Samat’s team clearly didn’t miss Apple’s WWDC 2025 conference, based on the accompanying video. This shows Android’s green robot mascot pulling a cord and finding that it not only turns off the light in the room, but also makes the robot turn glassy, with a transparent glowing look that’s highly reminiscent of the new designs of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, which Apple unveiled last summer. Commenters on Samat’s post were not slow to pick up on this similarity. “Is that… Liquid Glassdroid?” asked one. “Please don’t tell me Android is going to have a Liquid Glass look,” pleaded another. A third said the new version of Android was “hopefully not [a] copy of Liquid Glass. I mean, stay original, Android…” And so on, and so on. Nobody likes to be accused of plagiarism, and the Android boss did his best to shoot down the negative comments. When one user joked “Liquid Glass confirmed,” he personally replied “Not happening! Y’all are wild. 😂” (The crying-with-laughter emoji, of course, is the universal symbol of “I’m not being owned. I’m in on the joke. This is fun.”) Another commenter said: “No, don’t copy Apple with glass everything, [come on] bruh.” And Samat replied: “Don’t worry. Not happening!” Apple has taken its lumps over Liquid Glass, and now Android fans are worried Google is adopting a similar look.Foundry There were plenty more accusations of liquidity and glassiness. “Bro hopefully it’s not Liquid Gl(ass) 😭😭😭,” said one. “Please don’t copy Apple’s Liquid Glass,” said another. A particularly forthright reader wrote: “Please for the love of God don’t introduce Liquid Glass!!!!! It’s shit!” But Samat, perhaps wisely, decided to stop responding. Whether or not it’s fair to call Google unoriginal (and remember that we’ve only seen a promo video, not the interface itself), this does seem like a peculiar direction to take. Aside from the pushback if users do feel that Google is copying its rival, Liquid Glass isn’t even a big success among Apple users. Some like it; others think it reflects a flawed mindset. There were so many dissatisfied users that Apple had to create a toggle to tone down Liquid Glass’s signature transparency effects. For coverage of Google’s I/O conference, bookmark our sister website Tech Advisor… which is incidentally a lot less worried about Liquid Glass plagiarism than those commenters. Whatever happens, it should be a tasty event. In fact, maybe the promo was deliberately designed that way to generate engagement. You never know.

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Give your Apple Watch a glow-up with 70% off genuine Apple bands
Macworld Up to 69% OFF Apple Watch Sport Loops and Bands 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; }); })(); Whether it doesn’t look its best anymore or you just want a style change, a new band can make your old Apple Watch feel new again. Buying a new one can be pricey, and Apple’s official bands don’t go on sale very often, so you should jump at today’s Woot sale, which has some excellent options for as little as $15. The classic Apple Watch Sport Band is the most affordable of all, dropping 70 percent from $49 to $15. Available in multiple colors, including midnight, red, elderberry, White, and starlight, and sizes, you’re sure to find something perfect for whichever watch you own. The Apple Nike Sport Band in Spruce Aura and Vapor Green is also on sale for $20. If you want something a bit more sophisticated, Apple’s $99 Alpine Loop model is down to $35. Woot has this model available in orange or starlight, depending on the size you want. Other models, including the Trail Look and Alpine Loop for the Apple Watch Ultra are also on sale These are all original Apple bands and come with a 1-year limited warranty. Woot deals only last until stock runs out, and several combinations are already gone. Since Woot is an Amazon company, if you have a Prime subscription, your free shipping perks apply here, too.

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New James Marsden spy thriller picked up by Apple TV
James Marsden is to star and executive produce "Disavowed" for Apple TV, a new thriller series following a wrongly disgraced CIA agent.Actor James Marsden is to star in "Disavowed" for Apple TV - image credit: AppleApple TV has been cornering the market with prestigious dramas in either science fiction or thrillers, and now the likes of "Slow Horses" are to be followed by "Disavowed." Created by Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, it is to be an ongoing series following ex-agent Brad Griffin (Marsden).Marcum and Holloway are writing and producing partners, previously best known for the films "Iron Man," and "Men in Black: International." They have been nominated twice for "Worst Screenplay" at the Golden Raspberry Awards. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple chip rumor helps Samsung hit $1T valuation
A report earlier this week said that Apple was considering diversifying chip manufacturing away from its current sole dependence on TSMC. Samsung was one of two companies named as potential future suppliers of Apple’s A-series and M-series chips, and that report saw the company’s share price rise significantly … more…

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Report: Apple kicks off new run of A18 Pro chips as MacBook Neo demand exceeds expectations
Without a doubt, the MacBook Neo is a smash hit. Apple talked about the success of the new laptop on its most recent earnings call, warning that supply constraints will continue into the current quarter. Analyst Tim Culpan today reports that Apple now plans to make about 10 million MacBook Neos in total, about twice as many as it initially ordered. This will entail its chip supplier TSMC manufacturing a new run of A18 Pro chips to power the machines, which Apple will inevitably have to foot the bill for. more…

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Apple India spending $10.5 million on green energy & plastic reduction
Apple has announced a program to cut plastic pollution in India, and will partner with local firms to expand renewable energy capacity in the country.Tim Cook in a previous visit to India — image credit: AppleFollowing its 2026 Environmental Progress Report, Apple has announced further efforts in India to help toward the company's goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. The company has announced a series of projects including one expanding on its previous partnership with India's CleanMax renewable energy supplier."At Apple, our commitment to the environment is also a driving force for innovation — across the company and around the world," Sarah Chandler, Apple's vice president of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation said in a statement. "We're proud to expand our efforts to invest in India's clean energy economy and protect the country's precious natural resources." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Meta AI is analyzing teen faces but a 12yo kid with a fake mustache fooled it [U]
Meta’s latest attempt to comply with age verification requirements in Europe, Brazil and the US is to roll out AI-powered tech to analyse the faces of teenage users of Facebook and Instagram. The company says AI analysis will be used to estimate the ages of faces but that it does not amount to face recognition. Update: It doesn’t appear to be working too well – a 12yo kid fooled it by using an eyebrow pencil to draw a fake mustache … more…

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Samsung, Intel, and Apple In Talks for Potential Suppliers
Apple has had discussions with both Samsung and Intel regarding main processor manufacturing for their devices made in the United States. Early stage talks have been made with Intel for their services in chip making, with executives at Apple visiting the Samsung Plant that is currently being built in Texas. Talks are reportedly preliminary, with […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AI Showcase Held by Manufacturing Academy At Apple
An inaugural Spring Forum has been held by Apple for their Michigan, East Lansing Manufacturing Academy. The event gathers interested crowds to Michigan State for examples on how businesses are integrating AI techniques that can be picked up in the program. This is the biggest event of the academy, with offsite tours creating a big […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple TV needs a reboot
Macworld Apple TV was created to bring the Apple experience to non-Apple screens at a time when flat-screen TVs were becoming affordable and smart TVs weren’t a mainstream thing yet. However, although its debut came just minutes before the original iPhone, Apple’s streaming box hasn’t matured as quickly Apple’s ubiquitous smartphone.  Steve Jobs affectionately referred to Apple TV as a “hobby” at the time, and in many ways it still feels that way. Despite having a powerful chip inside and running tvOS, the Apple TV seems to have been left behind as both its competitors and other Apple devices gain more features and functionality.  Yes, it’s fast, has a clean interface, and offers a better user experience than anything else in its class, but Apple’s two-decade-old streaming device seems to be getting more and more expendable at a time when it should be a vital piece of the ecosystem. Apple TV is easy to like, but hard to justify If you’ve ever tried using the native apps that come pre-installed on your smart TV, you’ve probably found them frustrating at times. These apps are usually slow and web-based, and navigating them is a frustrating mess. Apple TV, on the other hand, is a really enjoyable product. Since it runs tvOS (which is essentially a version of iOS with a TV interface) and is powered by the same chips found in iPhones and iPads, the device excels at performing simple TV-related tasks and navigation. The Apple TV 4K was last updated in 2022.Foundry Everything works just as you’d expect. There are smooth animations throughout the system, and streaming apps open almost instantly. You also don’t constantly need to enter your passwords, since you can simply use your iPhone to sign in to apps such as Netflix and HBO. Plus, if you really want to, Apple TV can do more than just stream content. You can find a selection of games and other types of apps available on the App Store, play Apple Arcade games, and easily stream music and photos. So why is Apple TV so hard for some people to justify? First, there’s the price. The Apple TV 4K starts at $129, nearly twice what most competing streaming devices cost. For comparison, the newest Amazon Fire TV 4K Plus costs just $49 and is frequently lower than that. Apple TV boxes rarely go on sale and aren’t even sold at Amazon. And if you think about it, Apple TV doesn’t do anything so different from what other streaming boxes do. Yes, Apple TV runs much better software and offers superb quality, but it seems that Apple has been missing the opportunity to make Apple TV an even better and more appealing product. A smarter way to watch TV Of course, the Apple TV experience has come a long way since the first version. It now supports 4K content, third-party apps, and even functions as a home hub for smart accessories. But still, when it comes to watching content, things work pretty much the same way. You download an app, open it, and search for the content you want. Apple has tried to improve this experience a bit with the TV app, which brings together multiple streaming platforms in one place, but several services, including Netflix, aren’t part of it. It’s also tried to make Apple TV smarter by adding TV-specific features to Siri, so you can search for movies and TV shows more accurately using your voice. But of course, Siri is still quite limited, and there’s still nothing particularly revolutionary about anything Apple TV does. But it could be. One way Apple can set Apple TV apart from its competitors is by making the device much smarter. The next generation of the device needs a chip capable of running Apple Intelligence features. The Siri remote should unlock a world of Intelligence on Apple TV.Foundry Imagine, for example, an Apple TV with Visual Intelligence for on-screen awareness. You could simply ask Siri about an object or piece of clothing you saw in a scene, or even information about the filming location of the scene you’re watching. Search could also be greatly improved with Apple Intelligence. Apple TV users can already use Siri to find a show or movie in a specific genre or starring a specific actor, but AI could make this search much more natural and advanced.  It would be great to be able to ask Siri to find a specific scene in a movie and skip straight to it. And if you’ve been away from a series for a few weeks, you could ask, “Siri, give me a quick recap of what happened in the last two episodes” before you start the new one. Apple’s home strategy waits for Intelligence Apple TV is only part of the problem. In fact, Apple has been slowly trying to break into the smart home device market. We now have the HomePod and the HomePod mini, in addition to HomeKit technology. But something is holding Apple back from making progress in this segment. It’s been almost four years since Apple last updated the hardware for Apple TV and HomePod, and the reason is likely the lack of additional AI features and a more advanced Siri. Apple’s smart home ambitions, including Apple TV and HomePod, are reportedly on hold due to the delays with new Siri, which was supposed to arrive more than a year ago.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry According to multiple reports, Apple already has new versions of these devices ready to go. The company has also developed a new smart ‘HomePad’ device that combines the features of a HomePod and an Apple TV with a built-in 7-inch screen. However, Apple wants these products to be deeply integrated with Apple Intelligence features, including a more natural Siri. But since the company has yet to deliver the features promised at WWDC 2024, it has reportedly decided to postpone the launch of new smart home accessories. This brings us to Apple’s new leadership. With John Ternus stepping up as CEO later this year, there’s a good chance we’ll see major changes ahead. He’s known for being a products guy. After all, he’s an engineer. One of his first and most defining challenges will be delivering on the rumored smart home vision. If Ternus can bridge the gap between hardware that is ready and AI that is truly smart, the Apple TV 4K might finally stop being a “hobby” and become the essential centerpiece of the Apple home. Until then, we’ll wait and see if Apple will at least give us a hint of any AI features coming to the current Apple TV with tvOS 27 at WWDC in June. Or at least a new model with the capabilities to handle it.

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End-to-end Encryption to be Removed on Instagram on May 8
End-to-end encryption for DMs will now be removed by Instagram starting on May 8, which means that Meta may be able to view the message contents between you and the person you are talking to. Message encrypting has been an option you could use for Instagram but will now be removed as an under the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone Air Magsafe Battery Is $39 Off
The MagSafe Battery can be used to fully charge your iPhone Air allowing you to keep charged and powered on the go. It features 12W of fast charging and 25W of charging when connected to a power adapter of 25W or higher. The MagSafe Battery has been made exclusively for your iPhone Air made to […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Are you eligible for a share of Apple’s $250M new Siri settlement?
We reported earlier this week that Apple had reached a $250 million settlement over delays to the introduction of the new Siri features. Payouts to eligible iPhone buyers won’t be automatic, so you need to understand whether you’re one of them and be ready to act within a 90-day window … more…

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Lawmakers in Maryland Pressure Apple Over Closing of Unionized Apple Store
A letter has been sent to John Ternus and Tim Cook, the CEO at Apple, by the members of the Maryland United States Congress showing big concern about the decision of the company to close down the Towson, Maryland unionized retail store. Nine lawmakers in Maryland have signed the letter with seven representatives and two […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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$250 Million Paid By Apple To Settle Lawsuit
To settle a class action lawsuit that alleges Apple of unfair competition and false advertising after the countless delays of the revamped Siri they have been promoting, Apple will be paying $250 million. During the 2024 WWDC, Apple announced a revamped, smarter version of Siri with Apple Intelligence, along with promotions in videos and ads […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Upcoming iPhone 18 Pro to Remain Using Aluminum Finish
The same aluminum finish from the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to be carried over to the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, even as concerns were raised about the durability. The iPhone 17 Pro has an issue of surface chipping, with the company not accepting recourse. The issue came from the aluminum alloy material characteristics. The […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AirPods Max 2 Is $39 Off
The AirPods Max 2 have been designed with memory foam, custom textile ear cushions, telescoping arms, and a breathable knit-mesh canopy for comfortable wear. It is powered by the H2 chip, giving you crisp highs and deep bass. Get 1.5x more ANC with the new generation AirPods Max, immersing yourself in the moment, whether it’s […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Creator of Notepad++ Port for macOS Called Out
Don Ho, creator of Notepad++, stated that the famous Windows Code editor on the macOS version is a fake and is using the trademark of Notepad++ without their consent. He says that the application is not connected, endorsed, or authorized with the original version of Notepad++, also adding that it is inappropriate, disrespectful to both […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New Features for iOS 26.5 Releasing
After a month of beta testing, we are expecting iOS 26.5 to be released the following week. It is a small update that adds changes to the operating system and some new features. RCS end-to-end encryption has been added for the Messages app. Ads have also been added to Apple Maps along with suggested places. […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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T-Mobile Support for Satellite Connectivity Coming to New Zealand and Canada
Customers of T-Mobile in New Zealand and Canada are now available with Starlink satellite connectivity. Users in the past had cellular connectivity access through roaming agreements in New Zealand and Canada. Their website was updated to note satellite roaming and states that they will be adding support to other areas. T-Mobile is working with partners […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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