Apple Special Experience Announced By Apple
A special Apple Experience happening on March 4, 9:00 a.m ET in Shanghai, New York, and London has been announced by Apple today as a special Apple Experience. Certain members of the media have been invited by Apple itself in the three big cities. The company described the event as a Special Apple Experience, and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Podcast Now Supporting Video Episodes
Apple will be adding capabilities for a video podcast to their Apple Podcasts app using HLS or HTTP Live Streaming, supplying creators with opportunities for monetization and control, and giving the viewers a high-quality watching experience. The podcasts app in iOS 26.4 enables users to swap between listening to and watching shows with videos capable […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Budget-Friendly MacBook May Be Coming In These Colors
Apple has been trying out a variety of colorful colorways for its new budget-friendly MacBook. The company has tested pink, dark gray, classic silver, light green, and light yellow as their colors, but it is unlikely that all the colors mentioned will be released. Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple analyst, reported that the budget-friendly device is going […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Word, Excel & PowerPoint at your service for $30
Macworld TL;DR: Classic Office apps on your Mac for $29.97 — buy once, skip monthly fees forever. It’s the same old story with those free apps. Formatting breaks, spreadsheets behave weirdly, or a file someone sends you just doesn’t look right. Suddenly, you’re exporting, re-exporting, and wishing you were using the real thing. Right now, Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac is $29.97 (MSRP $229) — which makes the usual “subscription vs ownership” debate a lot easier. This is the full desktop version: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic. Installed locally, works offline, and doesn’t care if Wi-Fi is cooperating that day. Your files stay predictable because they’re built in the format most workplaces still rely on. It also plays nicely with macOS — Retina support, full-screen views, smooth scrolling — so it feels like a Mac app rather than a port. The big appeal, though, is psychological: you install it once and forget about billing cycles. No reminders, no renewal math, no “trial ending soon” banners. For students, freelancers, side-projects, or anyone tired of juggling compatibility quirks, this is basically a return to normal computing — software that just exists on your computer and keeps working. Don’t miss getting MS Office 2019 for Mac for just $29.97 (MSRP $229). Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple Music 5.2 for Android beta adds iOS 26.4’s Playlist Playground, album redesign
Following the first iOS 26.4 preview, Apple Music 5.2 entered beta earlier this week with three new features. more…

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Reboot: Podcast haircuts, in-car Apple TV, and the real F1 on big screens
In this week's "Reboot" column, the unintended consequences of video on Apple Podcasts, Apple TV and AI on CarPlay, and Apple's big F1 push beyond your iPhone screen.This week, Apple Podcasts, CarPlay Apple TV, and the real F1, not the movie that appears here - Image Credit: AppleReboot is a new weekly column covering some of the lighter stories within the Apple reality distortion field from the past seven days. All to get the next week underway with a good first step.After a week that saw new import tariffs replacing struck-down ones, Siri unexpectedly missing from Apple developer betas, and more legal wrangling, we can do with all the help we can get. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple should take Visual Intelligence one step further – with Reminders
One of the core Apple Intelligence features to date has been Visual Intelligence. It started off in a rather limited capacity through Camera Control, but with iOS 26, the company expanded it to screenshots. I’ve found those capabilities very useful thus far, and I’d love to see Apple take it even further. more…

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Today in Apple history: Hippie-themed iMacs fuel Cupertino flashback
On February 22, 2001, Apple introduced the iMac G3 Special Edition in wildly colorful Flower Power and Blue Dalmatian patterns. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Visual Intelligence & Apple wearables are Tim Cook's next big thing
The AI pendant and AirPods with cameras are getting a big push from Apple CEO Tim Cook, with his Visual Intelligence chatter a big indicator of where Apple's focus is going.Looking up AirPods from an image on AppleInsider, using Visual IntelligenceRecent rumors have claimed Apple is working on a form of pin or pendant that works with Apple Intelligence. They, alongside other forecasts about AirPods with cameras, form part of an apparent third product category that Apple CEO Tim Cook is keen to introduce.In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman recaps the recent hints from Cook about AI wearables and their connection to Visual Intelligence. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s next Macs will finally check every box
Macworld According to rumors, 2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for the Mac, starting in just a couple of weeks with Apple’s first event (or “experience”) of the year. Along with the usual faster chips, Apple reportedly has new tricks up its sleeve in 2026, with several new features that will have Mac users everywhere saying, “Finally!” Here are four major overdue announcements we expect to arrive this year. A budget MacBook iPhone fans have long pined for a truly affordable MacBook priced below the $999 MacBook Air that isn’t just an older model with a cut-rate price. That dream machine may finally arrive in just two short weeks. On March 4, Apple will hold a series of “experiences” in New York, London, and Shanghai, and the star is expected to be the first-ever low-cost MacBook. After tackling the mid-range market with the MacBook Air, Apple reportedly wants to compete with Chromebooks and Windows laptops, with a new laptop that could be as cheap as $599. Apple will reportedly use an A18 Pro or A19 Pro iPhone chip, and it will likely have a smaller screen than the Air and possibly fewer USB ports. But it will be powerful enough for everyday tasks and light work. For a lot of users, that’s all that’s needed. MacBooks with OLED displays When Apple unveiled the M1 Pro/M1 Max MacBook Pro in 2021, it was the first Mac to get the Liquid Retina XDR display, which was introduced in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro a few months earlier. The new mini-LED display was a huge upgrade over the previous model, bringing extreme dynamic range HDR, 120Hz ProMotion refresh, and up to 1,000 nits of sustained, full-screen brightness. it’s an excellent display, but it’s no longer the best. Apple is expected to upgrade the MacBook Pro’s display again in 2026 by taking another page from the iPad Pro. The M4 iPad Pro, released in 2024, introduced the Ultra Retina XDR display with tandem OLED technology to deliver high brightness, wide color support, and impressive color accuracy. Mac users have wanted it ever since, and it looks like Ultra Retina XDR will finally come with the M6 Pro and M6 Max MacBook Pro later this year. By the end of 2026, the MacBook Pro will be a very different laptop.Foundry A touchscreen MacBook Pro One of the most frequent barbs I get from Windows users who want to needle me about my Mac devotion is, “When are MacBooks going to get touchscreens?” We may finally have an answer in 2026, when rumors say Apple will launch the first-ever MacBook with a touchscreen display in the fall. There’s a chance it could slip into the early part of 2027, but signs suggest Apple really wants to make it happen in 2026. The MacBook Pro’s 20th anniversary is this year, and Apple reportedly wants to mark the occasion by introducing the new model. Along with a touchscreen, the redesign will also bring a thinner profile and speedier M6 Pro and Max chips. We expect the laptop to retain its trackpad, but for users who’ve been wanting to reach up and place their fingers on the screen, they’ll finally get their wish. The replacement for the C1X modem could make its way into the M6 Pro and Max MacBook Pro.Apple MacBooks with 5G For many longtime Mac users, it’s a head-scratcher why Apple hasn’t put a modem inside a MacBook, especially when the entire iPad line has one. Of course, you can always tether to an iPhone when there’s no Wi-Fi around (depending on your wireless plan), but it’s not ideal if you need to move a lot of large files around. And of course, you’re also draining your iPhone and MacBook batteries. Last year, Apple released its first homegrown cellular modems, the C1 in the iPhone 16e and the C1X in the iPhone Air and iPad Pro. With the C2 in 2026, which will likely support mmWave, Apple is expected to expand the modem to more devices, starting with the M6 Pro and M6 Max MacBook Pro. With an Apple modem in a MacBook Pro, you can stop worrying about staying connected and draining the life out of your tethered iPhone.

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This $25 bundle helps you create content without the creative burnout
The 2026 AI-Powered Digital Marketing & Content Creation Bundle helps creators, entrepreneurs and marketers use AI to build scalable content workflows. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Beat creative burnout: Get this AI content and marketing bundle for just $25
The 2026 AI-Powered Digital Marketing & Content Creation Bundle shows you how to craft messaging that connects for socials, email, etc. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iPhone 18 Pro may double down on bold colors
Apple reportedly plans a deep red finish for the iPhone 18 Pro, following the strong response to cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Expect at least five announcements during Apple's March launch week
Apple's early March string of announcements will include at least five product launches capped off by its triple-location event on March 4, with the budget MacBook and iPhone 17e tipped to appear.iPhone 17e and new MacBooks are expected in MarchAn "Apple Experience" is being held on March 4, which is widely expected to include multiple product launches. While no-one knows definitively what will be promoted by the company, it will consist of quite a few product introductions.In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman writes that Apple is planning three days of announcements. They will take place on Monday, March 2, until Wednesday, March 4. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple testing new ‘deep red’ color for iPhone 18 Pro, no ‘fun colors’ for iPhone Fold: report
iPhone 18 Pro is still well over half a year away. Nonetheless, we have some interesting new color rumors for the upcoming new iPhone model, and Apple may finally be doing something users have wanted for ages – a red ‘Pro’ iPhone. iPhone Fold, on the other hand, might not have any flashy color choices. more…

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iPhone 18 Pro may come in deep red after success of its orange predecessor
A new report claims that Apple will repeat the vibrant color of the iPhone 17 Pro Max and offer options including a return to a deep red for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but not the iPhone Fold.Mockup of a deep red iPhone 18 Pro MaxIt has traditionally been that lower-end iPhones can get bright colors such as the purple iPhone 12, while with exceptions, the Pro models have more muted ones. Now according to Bloomberg, the iPhone 18 Pro line will also get stronger than usual colors.This is said to be specifically because the orange iPhone 17 Pro Max has allegedly been particularly popular in China. Consequently, the claim is that deep red is in consideration as the color of the two Pro models in the iPhone 18 range. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Report: Apple to launch ‘at least five products’ leading into March 4 event
Last week, Apple announced a special Apple experience in various cities around the globe – taking place on March 4th. While this is unlikely to be a traditional Apple event, theres still ‘at least’ five new products set to launch at this event, per Bloomberg. more…

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Crime blotter: Man accused of stealing 60 iPhones from Walmart
A Best Buy employee is accused of a MacBook discount scam, a man is wanted in the theft of MacBooks, and a campaign report says an ex-Senator improperly spent on Apple products, all in this week's Apple Crime BlotterThe latest in an occasional AppleInsider, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.A man in upstate New York has been charged with stealing more than 60 iPhones worth nearly $52,000 from an area Walmart. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This $149.99 Bitcoin solo miner is $50 today
Macworld TL;DR: The BlockChance™ Bitcoin Ticket Miner gives you the chance to win a full Bitcoin block, and it’s on sale today for $50. Most people assume Bitcoin mining is only for big warehouses full of noisy hardware, but it’s actually very easy for anyone to get into. The BlockChance Bitcoin Ticket Miner turns solo mining into more of a low-power lottery that can sit quietly on your desk without you needing to do a thing, and it’s on sale. Instead of paying $149.99, right now, this Bitcoin Ticket Miner is on sale for $49.97, but that ends very soon. Instead of joining a huge mining pool for tiny payouts, this device sends solo “tickets” to the Bitcoin network for a chance at a full block reward. It runs at about 1,000 KH/s, which is roughly 18 times more hashing power than many hobby ticket miners, so it can submit far more tickets in the same amount of time. The screen on the front shows your current hashrate, ticket activity, pool connection, and simple probability stats, so you can actually see what it’s doing without opening a terminal window. Everything runs on its own hardware with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you plug it in with the included USB-C cable, connect it to your network, and let it run without a separate computer. Power draw is around 18 watts, which is less than a typical light bulb, and there is a quiet fan to keep it cool enough that you can keep it on all the time. It’s still important to remember that solo mining is based on chance, and there’s no guaranteed payout, but it’s a fun way to give yourself the opportunity. Right now, it’s only $50 to get a BlockChance™ Bitcoin Ticket Miner. Sale ends February 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT. BlockChance™ Bitcoin Ticket MinerSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Tech prices are going up, but these MacBooks are still under $200
Macworld TL;DR: This MacBook Air is only $199.97 right now, and shipping is free. The RAM shortage is already starting to affect computer prices, but it hasn’t touched refurbished devices yet. If you need a low-cost computer for the basics, this MacBook Air is still a good option for only $199.97 (MSRP $999). Inside, this MacBook has a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. That combination is enough for web browsing, note-taking, light photo work, and office productivity. The 13.3-inch display has a 1440×900 resolution, which is sharp enough for documents and video without hammering the battery. You also get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you can connect to wireless networks, headphones, and other accessories without hassle. Fully charged, the battery can last up to 12 hours, which gives you plenty of room during busy days when you can’t sit down at an outlet. This unit has a Grade “A/B” refurbished rating, which means it’s fully tested but may have light scuffs or small marks on the case. That’s also why the price is so low. It can update to macOS Monterey, which keeps it compatible with most modern software, though it will not move to newer macOS 26 releases. You also get a MagSafe charger in the box and a limited third-party warranty. Shipping is free. Right now, you can get a MacBook Air on sale for $199.97. Sale ends February 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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