iPhone roadmap rumors, iOS 26.2 released, Apple Music in ChatGPT
Benjamin and Chance discuss the late-in-the-year public launch of iOS 26.2, and the beginning of the 26.3 beta cycle. The Information has some juicy new details about the forthcoming iPhone roadmap, ChatGPT adds a clever Apple Music integration, and Chance tried using the PSVR2 spatial controllers with his Vision Pro. And in Happy Hour Plus, there’s more tantalizing evidence of a higher-end iMac in the works. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.  Sponsored by Udacity: Try risk-free for seven days at udacity.com/happyhour with code happyhour. Sponsored by Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/happyhour. Sponsored by HelloFresh: America’s #1 meal kit! Get 10 Free Meals with free Breakfast For Life at HelloFresh.com/happyhour10fm. more…

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Report: Apple is beginning development on a 24-inch OLED iMac
Macworld Just when you thought we were going to get through the year without a really juicy iMac rumor, in comes a report from Korean publication The Elec. According to its report, Apple has placed “Requests for Information” with Samsung Display and LG Display regarding OLED displays that could be used for a future iMac. An RFI is basically when a company asks suppliers to provide specifications and other details about a part that the company needs for product development. According to The Elec, Apple has stated in its requests that it is looking for a 24-inch OLED display that offers 218 pixels per inch density and 600 nits of brightness. That’s the same size and density as the current LED-based iMac display, but with higher brightness. However, there’s one big caveat that The Elec points out: “RGB OLED technology capable of reliably mass-producing 20- to 30-inch displays has not yet been developed.” Mass production has been for much smaller displays, so if Apple proceeds with an OLED iMac, suppliers need to develop a manufacturing process to create the displays, which will take some time. The Elect reports that Apple could complete development of the OLED iMac by 2027 or 2028. If everything goes as scheduled, the OLED iMac would ship in 2027 at the earliest (if development finishes in the early part of the year). But more likely it would be available in 2028 or 2029. It’s also possible that Apple could decide to scrap the project during the development stage. Apple has been gradually upgrading its devices from LED displays to OLED. Apple’s current iPhone lineup uses OLEDs. The iPad Pro is the only iPad with an OLED, but reports say that Apple has plans to bring it to the iPad mini and iPad Air in the next year or two. Reports have also said that Apple plans to release an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro in the second half of 2026. @macworld.com Mac legacy #imac ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld

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The M4 MacBook Air returns to its $749 all-time low
Macworld If you’re still looking for the perfect gift, stop right there — we know what you need. The M4 MacBook Air is down to $749 at Amazon, a massive $250 discount for one of the best laptops out there. In fact, most configurations are $250, with many still able to arrive before December 25. View at Amazon Powered by the speedy new M4 chip, the MacBook Air features a stunning 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display that makes everything look incredible, whether you’re streaming your favorite shows or tackling work projects. While we reviewed the 15-inch version, the 13-inch model offers the same features we loved, earning it a perfect 5-star rating. The excellent performance of the M4 chip is always worth mentioning, and so is the ability to connect two external displays via the Thunderbolt 4 ports. Throw in 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, and you have a fantastic laptop. You’ll love using this laptop for video calls and Zoom meetings, as the 12MP Center Stage camera will capture all details in perfect detail. While we wish storage upgrades were more affordable, the Thunderbolt 4 ports are perfect for hooking up a speedy external drive. Snag the MacBook Air M4 for $749 before the deal runs out, so you can get it for an amazing price and have it delivered in time for the holiday. Buy now at Amazon

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Apple TV’s next big psychological thriller gets a premiere date
Apple TV’s account on X confirmed today the premiere date for its upcoming psychological thriller with a star-studded cast. Here are the details. more…

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M5 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know
Macworld M5 MacBook Air: In summary M5 MacBook Air is expected to be released in spring 2026. Processor refresh with the new M5 chip anticipated. No other design or spec changes expected. U.K. and European shoppers will probably have to buy their own Power Adapter. Now that the M5 MacBook Pro is here it is only a matter of time before the M5 MacBook Air arrives. A gap of a few months between the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro and M5 MacBook Air is likely, so we anticipate that we will see the M5 MacBook Air in the first half of 2026. A spring launch seems most likely: Apple’s M4 MacBook Air was released in March 2024, about a year after the M3 version was released and Apple appears to be on a yearly cycle with the MacBook Air. We expect that the next generation of MacBook Air could be released in the spring of 2026. We can get a good picture of what to expect now that the M5 chip has arrived on the scene, with Apple describing the M5 as offering a “big leap” in AI performance. The M5 offers a new 10-core GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in each core, which Apple says means it can provide “over 4x the peak GPU compute performance compared to M4”. How these gains will translate to the MacBook Air remains to be seen, as the MacBook Air is usually a little less powerful than the equivalent MacBook Pro due to cooling space constraints. We will soon be running tests on the M5 chip so will get more of a picture of what to expect. This article will keep track of what’s being reported and rumored about the upcoming MacBook Air, as well as offer a perspective based on Apple’s current lineup. M5 MacBook Air: Specs With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple upgraded the built-in camera to a 12MP Center Stage camera and the ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4. With all those recent changes in mind, the M5 MacBook Air doesn’t have much else that clearly needs an upgrade. So, the new MacBook Air will likely be little more than a processor refresh. We can paint a picture of what to expect based on the existing M4 MacBook Air and the new M5 MacBook Pro. As usual, the specs of the entry-level MacBook Air are likely to include a GPU with fewer cores, and the mid-range MacBook Air is likely to match the spec of the entry-level MacBook Pro, but with half the storage. That is one specification that we’d like to see change: the 256GB SSD is on the small side. However, considering how long it took for Apple to get rid of the 8GB RAM configuration, Apple may stick with the 256GB SSD base model for a couple more generations. All models will start with the 16GB RAM configuration, as has been the case since Apple introduced it mid-way through the M3 cycle (October 2024). So, expect the following: M5 with a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory, 256GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 M5 with a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 24GB unified memory, 512GB SSD, Thunderbolt 4 When we benchmark the M5 chip we will include that information here, but we expect gains on the M4 chip. There will also be build to order options for up to 32GB memory. It’s not known if the 4TB SSD option that is now available on the M5 MacBook Pro will be available, we don’t expect it to be though. In the U.K. and Europe Apple has left the power adapter out of the box, so it is likely that this will be the case for the MacBook Air when it launches. In July, AppleInsider reported that the code names for the new laptops are J813 (13-inch Air) and J815 (15-inch Air).  MacRumors reported in December 2025 that references to the M5 MacBook Air appeared in a set of leaked Apple files. M5 MacBook Air: Design No changes expected The current design for the MacBook Air was introduced in 2022. Since it’s only a few years old, we don’t expect it to change with the M5 release. With the M4 MacBook Air, Apple introduced a Sky Blue color to replace Space Gray, but it is unlikely that we will see any new colors for this generation. Apple introduced Sky Blue as a color option with the M4 MacBook Air.Eugen Wegmann M5 MacBook Air: Display The rumor mill has reported on plans for the company to implement OLED displays in its MacBooks, with the MacBook Pro getting the new display first, but that probably won’t happen until 2026. The MacBook Air could follow in 2027, but it’s also possible Apple will continue to offer the standard Liquid Retina display to keep the lines separate, as with the iPhone and iPad. M5 MacBook Air: Release date Expected in the first half of 2026 Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in March 2025 that Apple is working on the M5 MacBook Air, but did not mention when it would be ready. But we can guess based on the availability of the M5 series of chips, which are now available in the M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro. A gap of a few months between the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro and M5 MacBook Air is likely, so we anticipate that we will see the M5 MacBook Air in the first half of 2026. The new MacBook Air could appear even sooner though: On September 28, 2025, Gurman reported that various M5 models were coming between “the end of the year and the first quarter of next year,” and he listed the M5 MacBook Air as well as the M5 MacBook Pro, both of which he said were “nearing mass production”. On October 16, Gurman reported that the M5 MacBook Air is scheduled for a spring 2026 release. M5 MacBook Air: Price We don’t expect the pricing to change, especially as the MacBook Pro pricing hasn’t changed. When it launched the M4 MacBook Air, Apple also cut the price of all models by $100, bringing the entry-level model down to $999. We haven’t read any reports about the pricing for the M5 MacBook Air. Apple will likely offer similar configurations to the M4, but it remains to be seen if the new lower prices will remain. The threat of tariffs by the U.S. government is a looming issue, which could affect prices. Apple could also keep the M4 around at $999 and start the M5 Airs at $1,099 like before. Here are the prices for the current standard configurations of the M4 MacBook Air. MacBook Air modelU.S.U.K.CanadaAustralia13in, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD$999£999$1,399$1,69913in, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD$1,199£1,199$1,699$1,99913in, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD$1,399£1,399$1,999$2,29915in, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD$1,199£1,199$1,699$2,09915in, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD$1,399£1,399$1,999$2,39915in, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD$1,599£1,599$2,299$2,699

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Huion Kamvas Pro 24 (Gen 3) drawing tablet Review: Wacom is in trouble
The third-generation Huion Kamvas Pro 24 is an excellent pen display for digital artists to use while working on their Mac. Wacom should be afraid.Huion Kamvas Pro 24 (Gen 3) review - in useAs a professional digital illustrator, pen display tablets are the lifeblood of my work and the backbone behind everything I create. I know when a pen display delivers or when they fall short.We're living in a time where new pen display releases steadily hit the market. The juggernaut that is Wacom is no longer the only game in town, nor is it the clear industry leader. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to use ChatGPT with Apple Music when search comes up short
ChatGPT now supports Apple Music, giving subscribers a new way to discover and save music through conversation. Here's how to connect it, start using it, where ChatGPT is better, and where Apple Music search is better.How to use ChatGPT with Apple MusicOpenAI recently added Apple Music support to its ChatGPT app and it fills a gap Apple Music has struggled with for years. The integration works best when you know the kind of music you want, but Apple's search can't quite follow your thinking.Apple Music is fast and reliable when you already know what you're looking for. It's less helpful when discovery starts with a mood, a vague memory, or a poorly defined idea. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple TV expands ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ universe with new spin-off series starring Wyatt Russell
Apple TV on Thursday announced the expansion of Legendary’s Monsterverse with a thrilling new untitled prequel starring Wyatt Russell… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple’s OLED iMac: What to expect from the stunning display (and when)
Get ready for an OLED iMac, bringing a gorgeous new display to Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer for enhanced visuals. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Rivian rolls out software update 2025.46, including Universal Hands-Free driving and digital key for Apple and Android users
Rivian has just shared details of its latest over-the-air software update 2025.46, which includes some of the new features announced during its recent AI and Autonomy event last week. The update features a new digital key function for Gen 2 R1 owners, “flavorful” drive styles, kick turns, tuning, and, of course, Rivian’s new Universal Hands-Free driving capabilities. more…

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Why Apple plans to add more search ads to the App Store next year
You might not love that the App Store will introduce additional ad placements in search results, but Apple insists it's a good thing. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple announces changes to iOS in Japan
Apple has introduced updates to iOS apps in Japan in response to the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). These changes provide… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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This ChatGPT training course shows entrepreneurs the smartest ways to use AI
Save on the 2025 Complete ChatGPT Skills and Business Mastery Bundle. These courses will show you how to utilize the most popular AI around. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Stock futures jump after better-than-expected inflation data
U.S. stock futures climbed on Thursday following the release of cooler-than-expected November inflation data. The Consumer Price Index… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Snapchat Quick Cut automatically creates music-synced videos in seconds
A new Snapchat Quick Cut feature has been launched, which enables you to automatically create music-synced videos in just a few seconds. The feature is exclusive to the iPhone for now, with Android support promised for a later date … more…

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Make taking iPhone screenshots easy again
iPhone screenshots can be simple again. Change a setting, and you can get rid of the complex new system Apple created for iOS 26. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Epic Games CEO slams Japanese App Store 'junk fees' following App Store tweaks
As expected, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney took to social media to complain about the "junk fees" he says will prevent "Fortnite" from returning to the iPhone.Tim Sweeney is, once again, mad at Apple. Image source: Epic GamesApple announced on December 17 that it is introducing support for third-party app stores and payment processors to Japanese iPhones. But if you thought that news would make Tim Sweeney happy, think again.As a recap, Apple's announcement brings Japanese iPhones closer to the way iPhones function in the European Union. The rule changes mean that third-party app stores can be installed, while developers can also choose how they accept payments for apps and digital goods. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple gift card safety questioned after terrifying account lockout
The safety of buying Apple gift cards from anywhere other than the company itself has been called into question after a frankly terrifying story of a well-known developer and author getting locked out of his account. Organizer of the /dev/world conference Paris Buttfield-Addison described what happened after he attempted to redeem an Apple gift card purchased from a well-known bricks-and-mortar retailer … more…

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HR’s 2026 Playbook Signals a Human-Centric Tech Reset
Burnout, AI anxiety, and rising expectations around pay and growth are pushing HR leaders to rethink how technology, transparency, and people strategy intersect in 2026. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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OLED iMac in the works, says report – with two catches
We’re expecting to see an OLED MacBook Pro launching next year as part of a major redesign, but we haven’t previously heard anything about when Apple might bring the display tech to the iMac. A new supply chain report says that Apple is now working on this, but there are a couple of key things to note … more…

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New iMac with OLED display may launch in 2027
A new supply chain report suggests that Apple is planning to update its 24-inch iMac with OLED to make an improved and noticeably brighter display.The current 24-inch iMacIt's been described as the perfect Mac, but still the 24-inch iMac has seen only minor updates since it first moved to Apple Silicon in April 2021. Now it's reported that Apple is looking to at least significantly improve the display in a future release.According to The Elec, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to both Samsung Display and LG Display. An RFI typically includes finalized specifications for what a company wants, and the display firms can now bid to develop and supply it. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 17e: Everything you need to know
Macworld iPhone 17e: Summary A19 processor Possible new display with Dynamic Island Single rear camera MagSafe support Spring 2026 release Apple launched a new series of iPhones at the end of 2025: the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max as well as a brand new iPhone Air, but there was no new iPhone 17e for those hoping for an update to the budget iPhone. This wasn’t a surprise: Apple released the iPhone 16e in February 2025 to replace the iPhone SE, so an update to the iPhone “e” series phones wasn’t expected to arrive until early 2026. If you’re considering buying an iPhone 17e, this is the place to keep up to date on its development. We’ll keep track of the latest reports and provide our analysis to help you decide if the iPhone 17e is the right phone for you. At a glance: What to expect from iPhone 17e 6.1-inch OLED display with Dynamic Island A19 chip Single 48MP back camera; 18MP front camera C1 cellular modem MagSafe support Black or white color options Like the iPhone 16e – and the iPhone Air – the iPhone 17e will likely have a single back camera.Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd iPhone 17e: Specs A19 with one fewer GPU than iPhone 17 MagSafe support C1X modem possible A December 2025 report in The Information claimed that Apple will add MagSafe support to the iPhone 17e, one of the features that is notably missing from the 16e. When we reviewed the 16e, the lack of MagSafe was one of its major shortcomings. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the iPhone 17e will have an A19 chip. If this is the case, it will be the same A19 chip as is used by the iPhone 17. There may still be a difference, though: Apple uses binned chips in the “e” series. The A18 in the iPhone 16e has one fewer GPU core than the A18 in the standard iPhone 16; the A19 in the iPhone 17e will likely have one fewer GPU core than the iPhone 17. In August 2025, a leaker named Digital Chat Station also reported that the iPhone 17e will have an A19 chip. Apple’s C1 modem first appeared in the iPhone 16e, and rumors suggest the iPhone 17e will use the same modem. However, it could take the newer C1X modem as found in the iPhone 17 series, which is apparently two times faster than the C1 while using 30% less energy. iPhone 17e: Display Might have Dynamic Island instead of notch. The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen, which is larger than that of the iPhone 16 (6.1-inch). The iPhone 17e is not expected to get a bigger screen. It will likely sport a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, the same as the iPhone 16e. This was reported by Digital Chat Station in August, who also said that the display will have a Dynamic Island, which would be a change from the notch on the iPhone 16e. In December 2025, The Elec reported that BOE will provide OLED displays to Apple for the iPhone 17e. BOE also provided OLEDs for the iPhone 16e. Samsung Display and LG Display are expected to also provide 17e displays. The display, according to The Elec, will have thinner bezels than the 16e. The Elec said the 17e will start shipping early next year. iPhone 17e: Cameras 18MP front camera Single rear camera The iPhone 17e will likely continue to have a single 48MP camera on the back and a 12MP camera on the front, just like the iPhone 16e. This was reported by Digital Chat Station in August. However, the front-facing cameras across the iPhone 17 range have all been updated to 18MP, so it is possible that the iPhone 17e will see the same update to the selfie camera. If so, it will also include a square sensor capable of taking photos in any orientation without requiring the user to rotate the phone. The notch may be replaced by the Dynamic Island in the iPhone 17e.Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd iPhone 17e: Design & Colors Likely black and white options There have been no reports relating to the iPhone 17e’s colors. The iPhone 16e is available in black or white, and we expect the same for the iPhone 17e. No changes are expected for the design, although, as mentioned above, the new iPhone 17e could have a Digital Island instead of the notch at the top of the screen. iPhone 17e: Release date Expected to arrive in spring 2026 Like the SE, Apple started shipping the iPhone 16e in early 2025, several months after the rest of the iPhone 16 line. According to reports, the iPhone 17e has entered test production runs to prepare it for a spring 2026 release. A report stated that iPhone 16e sales are not doing as well as Apple would like. It’s not clear if this will affect the release of the iPhone 17e. iPhone 17e: Price Starting at $599 The iPhone 16e starts at $599, and Apple is expected to price the iPhone 17e at $599 as well, though no reports have been made so far. Tariffs and production cost increases may affect the price, but since the “e” series is considered Apple’s lowest-priced iPhone, the price would not exceed that of the iPhone 17, which starts at $799, and the iPhone 16, whose price has been reduced to start at $699.

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More ads are coming to the App Store in 2026
Apple is preparing to present more ads during searches on the App Stores, but has told advertisers they can't pay to get better positioning.App Store ads. While reports of ads coming to Apple Maps remain rumors, Apple has announced that it is adding "additional ads across search queries" in the App Store from 2026. The new ads will appear inline within the search results, while the existing ones will continue to be at the top of the list.Apple's note to advertisers and developers about this stresses firstly that they do not need to do anything to appear in these new ad slots. But then secondly, it says that they actually cannot do anything to appear in them. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Epic Games accuses Apple of ‘competition-crushing’ junk fees as battle continues
Another country, another continuation of the ongoing antitrust battle between Epic Games and Apple over third-party app stores. While Apple has enabled support for third-party app stores within another country, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney isn’t happy with the arrangements … more…

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PSA: This is your last chance to get AirPods Pro 3 for $50 off in time for Christmas
Good morning! Well folks, this is it. I’ve been telling you for the last six weeks to buy AirPods Pro 3 this holiday season, and this is your last call. I’ll be honest, this last hurrah comes as a surprise. Amazon has done the unexpected and dropped AirPods Pro 3 back to their all-time low of $199. AND! The logistics wizards at the company say your order will arrive before Christmas with time to spare. Apple AirPods Pro 3 $199 (Reg. $249) | All-time low more…

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2025 Macworld Awards: Apple’s biggest wins and misses
Macworld As 2025 comes to a close, Macworld is proud to present our Apple awards,ta look back at the best and worst of everything released over the past 12 months. It was a busy year for Apple, with new products across its entire range of products, including iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Mac, and even Vision Pro. So join us as we recognize the products that made the most impact in 2025: iPhone/iOS Emma Rowley / Foundry iPhone of the Year:  iPhone 17 The iPhone 17 isn’t just the best iPhone of 2025; it’s the best iPhone of the last five years. Apple finally stopped holding back features that should be table stakes for an $800 phone. You get double the storage, 120Hz ProMotion, 50 percent higher peak brightness, always-on display, better cameras, and speed and battery life that both exceed last year’s Pro model. All without raising the price. There’s never been a better year not to go Pro. — Jason Cross Apple iOS feature of the year:  Tackling Spam Call Screening will silently answer unknown numbers and ask them to say why they’re calling, and you can see it all right on screen. It’s a great way to eliminate spam calls without missing legit calls from numbers that just aren’t in your contacts. Couple that with new spam filtering in Messages, as well as in the Phone app and FaceTime, and Apple is finally doing something about one of the biggest pain points of using a smartphone. There’s still a long way to go, but since upgrading to iOS 26 and enabling these features, I’ve noticed a big drop in the number of times a day I pick up my phone only to immediately hang up on a solicitation message. — Jason Cross Britta O’Boyle Color of the Year: Cosmic Orange For the company that ostracized beige as the default color in computing when it launched the out-there Bondi Blue iMac in 1998, Apple has been rather tame in terms of its recent color choices. The iPhone 17 Pro’s Cosmic Orange is therefore a refreshing shock to the system and a vibrant return to form. Orange is no longer restricted to traffic cones and dodgy Seventies furniture. The Apple Store should hand out sunglasses for the crowds picking up the vibrant new iPhone and ignoring the dark blue one. There’s even a growing range of orange accessories available for the new phone. — Simon Jary Apple Oddity of the Year: iPhone Pocket Readers of a certain vintage who still fondly remember when Apple released a pair of socks for its iPod back in 2004, were rocked once again with the unexpected—and indeed unasked-for—iPhone Pocket, which the company described as “a singular 3D-knitted construction designed to fully enclose iPhone, while expanding to fit your everyday items”. Designed in conjunction with the Issey Miyake design studio famous for Steve Jobs’ trademark turtleneck, the iPhone Pocket comes in eight crazy colors, including Peacock, Sapphire, and Cinnamon. We all laughed until it sold out in mere minutes. — Simon Jary Foundry Flop of the Year: Liquid Glass Liquid Glass was Apple’s bold new, all-encompassing design language that radically changed the look of Apple’s software across all of the OS 26 software updates. Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design, tried to channel his inner Jony Ive by describing it as making “even the simplest of interactions more fun and magical.” We didn’t get that. Instead, Liquid Glass is the worst example of flamboyance over function, the opposite of Ive’s philosophy. — Simon Jary Mac/macOS Foundry Mac of the Year: M3 Ultra Mac Studio Overall, 2025 was a quiet year for Mac hardware, but one Mac made a sizable impact on Apple’s lineup. The Mac Studio was a bit of a surprise because its M3 Ultra chip was released out of sequence with  Apple’s usual cadence. Still, in the Mac Studio, it’s the fastest Mac available, leaving the M2 Ultra Mac Pro behind—way behind. At thousands less, it basically renders the Mac Pro irrelevant to everyone who doesn’t really need an expansion card. With its exnihilating CPU speed, powerful GPU performance, and robust expandability, the Mac Studio became King of the Macs in 2025. — Roman Loyola Den M5 gibt es bisher nur in der Basisversion, 2026 kommen dann der M5 Pro und M5 Max. Apple Chip of the Year: M5 To say, “Apple is on a roll,” undercuts how much momentum the company has with its chips. Apple silicon is downright killing it, and the M5 chip exemplifies why. Making its debut in the MacBook Pro, the M5 provides an ideal and unprecedented combination of processing speed, graphics power, and energy efficiency in a consumer-level chip. The M5 is so good that Apple felt that it could wait until next year to release the M5 Pro and Max variants. — Roman Loyola Foundry Disappointment of the Year: Mac Pro While every other Mac has some version of the M4 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro has an M5, Apple’s most expensive Mac still has the same M2 Ultra chip it got back in June 2023. Meanwhile, the Mac Studio with a superior M3 Ultra costs a couple of thousand dollars less, and I’m left to wonder: How can Apple charge upwards of $10,000 for a Mac with a two-plus-generation-old chip? There were plenty of opportunities to update the Mac Pro in 2025, but instead, Apple let it languish another year with the same aging processor. iPad/iPadOS Foundry iPad of the Year: iPad Pro M5 Apple updated three of its four iPads in 2025 (sorry iPad mini), but the M5 iPad Pro is really the only one that could be considered for this distinction. All three updates were essentially chip refreshes (A14 to A16 (iPad); M2 to M3 (iPad Air); M4 to M5 (iPad Pro), but only the iPad Pro delivered a noticeable boost over its predecessor. Add in 50 percent more entry-level RAM, faster Wi-Fi, and fast charging, and you’ve got an upgrade worthy of a pro. — Michael Simon Apple Update of the year: iPadOS 26 This year’s WWDC keynote was jam-packed with features, from Liquid Glass to Live Translation and revamped app designs. But the star of the show was iPadOS 26, which introduced a new interface that incorporated many of the visual and productivity elements users have wanted for years, with resizable windows, macOS-like multitasking, and a new lease on life. — Michael Simon Apple Watch David Price / Foundry Watch of the year: Apple Watch SE 3 Strictly speaking, the Series 11 was the best Apple Watch to come out this year (I find the Ultra models too bulky for everyday wear), but the SE 3 was without a doubt the one I’d recommend to a friend. It’s nearly as good and far better value. As part of the 2025 refresh, the SE gained an always-on display, a bigger and longer-lasting battery, improved scratch resistance, new health features and gestures, on-device Siri, and the option of 5G. And all that for $249! Forget the Series 11; this has everything you need from a smartwatch at an excellent price. — David Price Services Apple Apple TV show of the year: ‘Pluribus’ There’s something nerve-wracking about recommending a TV show in the middle of a run–particularly one as unpredictable as *Pluribus*. Who knows where it will go from here? But just six episodes into the debut season of this frequently funny, occasionally harrowing sci-fi drama, and even against strong competition from the second season of *Severance*, I feel (reasonably) confident naming this as the Apple TV show of the year. As you’d expect from a Vince Gilligan production, *Pluribus* flips seamlessly between slow-burn beauty and sudden shocking action, between grief and humor and mystery. And Rhea Seehorn is superb as the last unhappy woman in the world. Maybe it’ll go downhill at some point, but let’s enjoy the ride while it lasts — David Price Foundry Service of the year: News + Apple TV and Music may get all the attention, but Apple News+ came into its own in 2025. Apple’s daily puzzles had long revolved around somewhat pedestrian offerings, such as crosswords and Sudoku, but a completely original concept, Emoji Game, quickly became a unique and highly entertaining option for users seeking original concepts. And for those of us who have grown sick of the fluff and intrusive ads we come across when Googling recipes, Apple News+ added a new search function that lets you find recipes and view the ingredients and directions in a clutter-free interface. Neat, right? It gets better. You can directly set timers based on the stated durations and add the listed ingredients to your Reminders app. — Mahmoud Itani

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X drops support for installing its iPad app on the Mac
Last year, X (formerly known as Twitter) killed its dedicated Mac app and removed it from the Mac App Store. At the time, the company pointed users to the iPad version of the app, which remained available on the Mac App Store for Apple Silicon users to install. Now, however, X is blocking users from installing the iPad version of the app on macOS. The essentially means the company has ditched the Mac entirely. more…

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How can I recover lost or deleted data from my Mac
Macworld Life might not be entirely paperless yet, but the truth is that the vast majority of our important documents, photos, videos and other files are all now digital. This is good, as it saves space in our homes and the money in our pockets. But this also means we can lose everything if a drive fails, becomes corrupted, or we accidentally delete data. This is a nightmare, especially if you don’t have a solid backup solution in place. So, what can be done to recover lost or deleted files from your Mac or iPhone?  Check your backups or cloud accounts With devices now being so heavily interconnected, you might find that the missing files are backed up in iCloud, Google Drive, Onedrive or any other cloud-based storage service you use. So, the first step is to look there. If that comes up empty, then checking to see if you have a Time Machine backup of your files is the next step. Should this be the case, then simply copy those files onto a new drive and you’ll be back to normal. If you can’t find the files, or your drive has crashed and taken the system with it, then it can feel a bit hopeless. That’s not where the story ends though, as professional recovery software can still provide a high probability of safely retrieving that precious data. Restoring lost or deleted date with professional recovery software You’ll find a wide range of recovery software available, but we recommend you go for one with a longstanding reputation and large user-base. Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac is an excellent option, as the company has been a specialist in the sector for 30 years, with the software downloaded over 130 million times. The simple and easy to use interface means that you don’t have to be a tech expert to find and restore your lost data. Simply tell it the type of files you’re looking for, scan the drive, preview the files to see if they’re the ones you’re after, then save them to a new location. It’s all done in a few clicks. You can even pause the process at any time, so your Mac isn’t tied up with the search for the lost data. Stellar Don’t let the simplicity fool you though, as Stellar Data Recovery is incredibly powerful and can rescue data from a wide range of problems. Whether it’s been deleted accidentally or wiped out when a drive was formatted, the software has a 98.6% recovery rate, meaning there’s an excellent chance you’ll get it back. It also works with crashed and unbootable systems, corrupted hard drives, SSDs, USB sticks, SD cards, Bootcamp partitions, Time Machine backups and encrypted drives. So, no matter the media, your data could still be found. Stellar Data Recovery can be used to find a huge selection of file types, such as documents, photos, videos, emails, ZIP files and others, plus there’s also versions for iPhone, Android and Windows if you have a cross-platform set-up. Get your data back with Stellar Data Recovery You can sign up for a free trial of Stellar Data Recovery today, which will scan your system and show you which data is recoverable. Then, if you’re able to get back the files you need, Stellar Data Recovery Professional has all the tools you need for only £89.99/$89.99. That’s a lifetime purchase too, so you won’t need to worry about a subscription. Try out Stellar Data Recovery Professional today! Data disappearing can be annoying at best, catastrophic at worst. Don’t lose heart though, with professional recovery software all is not lost.

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Best Virtual Machine (VM) Software for Mac 2026: Parallels vs VMware and more
Macworld Even the most loyal Mac users recognize that Windows still rules the roost in the world of desktop and laptop computers, and there are many important apps that only run on Windows. For example, the Windows version of Microsoft Office includes the Access database that has never been available for the Mac, and there are many professional graphics and video tools that are Windows-only. And, of course, there are all those A-List games that have never even glanced in the direction of us poor, forgotten Mac gamers. If you need to run Windows software or games on your Macs then this article will reveal the best way to do so. Read on to discover the best options for running Windows, and Windows apps, on your Mac. You may also like to read our guide to How to install Windows and run Windows apps on a Mac (M-series models). We also cover how to run Windows on an Intel Mac separately. Best Virtual Machine for Mac 2026: Best VMs to run Windows on a Mac Read on for the best virtual machines for Mac. Our top choice is Parallels, but we also consider VMware and alternative options, including emulators that let you run Windows apps on a Mac without even installing Windows to Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. At a Glance Best VM Comparison ToolBest ForPriceApple Silicon SupportParallels DesktopBest overallPaidYesVMware FusionFree personal useFreeYesCrossOverWindows apps w/o WindowsPaidYesUTMGood budget optionFree/$9.99Yes 1. Parallels Desktop: Best VM software for Mac Pros Frequent updates and new features. Good performance on multi-core Apple chips. Slick, easy-to-use interface. Ability to run x86 Windows on M-series Macs. Cons Most editions require a subscription. Virtual machines require a lot of memory and processor power. Windows On ARM is expensive. Price When Reviewed: Standard – $99.99 annual subscription or $219.99 perpetual license; Pro – $119.99 annual subscription; Business – $149.99 annual subscription Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Parallels (1 year) $99.99 View Deal Parallels (Perpetual License) $219.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Parallels Desktop allows you to create a virtual machine on your Mac. The software simulates the physical hardware of a Windows PC and lets you run Windows on your Mac.   One of the benefits is Parallels Desktop allows you to run Mac and Windows apps side by side, without having to reboot to switch between the operating systems. With Parallels you can keep Windows and macOS completely separate or you can use Coherence mode to fully integrate your Windows apps on your Mac–you can even add them to your Dock. Parallels also offers a Rollback mode, which is useful for experimenting developers. Nothing is saved, so when you restart the computer the VM will return to it’s original state.  Parallels makes installing Windows really easy. Since Parallels Desktop version 18 it has been possible to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 within Parallels. You do need to buy a license for the ARM version of Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise (unfortunately, the cheaper Home edition isn’t supported). If it’s the old x86 version of Windows you want then Parallels has been working to support this on M-series Macs. The 20.2.0 update in January 2025 introduced the limited ability to create virtual machines (VMs) that run certain versions of Windows that were written for Intel processors (sometimes known as ‘x86_64’, referring to 64-bit software written for Intel’s x86 processors). It’s important to note, though, that there are some major limitations such as a lack of sound and assigning a maximum of 8GB memory to each VM. It’s also slow. But that’s only going to apply to you if you are running an Intel version on an M-series Mac. Parallels Desktop has a regular update cycle that tends to coincide with Apple’s big macOS updates. Parallels Desktop was updated in September 2025, bringing support for macOS Tahoe and it’s new features. Parallels Desktop 26 includes technical updates that allow it to run smoothly with the new system for handling background processes that has been introduced with macOS 26. It’s also compatible with the latest Windows 11 25H2. A number of new AI-specific features aimed at developers were introduced with the September 2024 update (Parallels Desktop 20). A ‘Parallels AI Package’ allows developers to create a new virtual machine with a pre-installed set of AI tools and features, including the ability to control Parallels Desktop using plain language commands (more info here).   Read our full Parallels Desktop for Mac review 2. VMware Fusion – Free Mac VM (for personal use) Pros Fusion allows you to use it for free if it’s for personal, home and student use. Cons VMware doesn’t update Fusion as regularly as Parallels is updated. Price When Reviewed: Free (personal use); $120 (commercial) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price VMware (Fusion Player, personal use) Free View Deal VMware Fusion Pro (non-commercial use) Free View Deal VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro $120 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket For many years, VMware Fusion was in lock-step with Parallels Desktop, with the two rivals releasing regular updates and competing for the top spot in the Mac virtualization market. In recent years, though, VMware seems to have taken its foot off the pedal and has allowed Fusion to fall behind a bit (in fact, you actually have to dig around quite a bit simply to find Fusion on the VMware website these days). When Fusion version 13 arrived in November 2022, it brought support for ARM virtualization on Apple’s M1 and M2-series chips. As is the case with Parallels Desktop, you can only run the Arm version of Windows on M-series Macs. Unfortunately, installing the Arm version of Windows via VMware isn’t as simple as it is with Parallels, VMware told us that it’s up to the user to buy a license from Microsoft (which is a challenge due to it not being available to individual users). Version 13.5 arrived in October 2023 and with it much needed support for DirectX 11 3D graphics and an easier way to install Windows 11 on Arm via a “Get Windows” button. VMware Fusion 13.6 arrived in September 2024 and brought vmcli command line support and new guest operating system support. With the arrival of Fusion 12 in 2020, VMware started to offer a free version of the program – called Fusion Player – for personal use only, for home users and students. It’s since changed this strategy and is offering the Fusion Pro for free as long as it is for personal use. You’ll need to register for a VMware account, but Fusion Pro is free to download here. While Fusion hasn’t kept up to date with the latest developments in Mac hardware and software, the availability of the free version of Fusion Pro still makes it a great option for home users and students who occasionally need to run Windows apps or games on their Intel Macs. Read our full VMware Fusion review 3. Codeweavers CrossOver: Best for running Windows apps without Windows Pros 14-day trial Doesn’t require a full version of Windows Improved interface and ease of use Regular updates, good technical support Cons Some Windows apps aren’t compatible Can be complicated to use Requires Rosetta on Apple Silicon Price When Reviewed: $59.95 for a year, $494 for life Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CodeWeavers $74 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket CrossOver is based on WINE (see below), and uses a similar compatibility layer to allow Windows apps to run on the Mac without requiring a full version of Windows to be installed as well (you need to buy a copy of Windows for use with virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion). Although WINE is a free, open-source program, it’s complicated to use. In contrast, Codeweavers have developed CrossOver as a user-friendly alternative. A copy of CrossOver with a year of technical support is $74/£60, or you can pay $494/£414 for lifetime support. There is a 14-day free trial available. With CrossOver you install Windows apps in Bottles, which are self-contained files that can be launched and run on your Mac without requiring a full copy of Windows. You can create lots of different bottles for different apps, and bottles can even be configured to provide compatibility with different versions of Windows. This is useful as it allows you to create bottles that are suitable for older games and software that might require a particular version of Windows in order to run properly. Simplifying things further, CrossOver has a Mac-like interface and offers assistance for installing Windows apps and games. For example, when you launch CrossOver you see the main Install window, which lists popular Windows apps and games, such as Grand Theft Auto V and the Quicken accounting software for business users. You can even search for information on hundreds of Windows apps, and get an indication of how well they run with CrossOver. CrossOver 25 (March 2025) was one of the biggest updates of recent years, promising to bring “next level gaming to the Mac”. Some of the new features in v25 are under-the-bonnet changes, such as adopting the latest version of the underlying WINE technology, which Codeweavers claims includes thousands of programming updates to improve performance and compatibility. This update also introduces a new graphics technology, called DXMT that, according to Codeweavers, provides better performance for less powerful Mac models when running Windows games that use DX11 graphics. There’s improved compatibility with lots of big-name Windows games, allowing you to play games such as Path Of Exile 2, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Fallout 76 for the first time. And, along with Steam, CrossOver 25 now supports the Windows versions of the GoG and Epic game stores so that you can download games that you own from those stores. CrossOver is based on code written for Intel processors, so it relies on Apple’s Rosetta to run on Macs with Apple Silicon, but we found that performance was pretty good regardless. Codeweavers says that it is working on native support for Apple Silicon. The Codeweavers team puts a lot of effort into regular updates for CrossOver and the tech support is impressive. Even so, CrossOver can still be a little daunting at times, so it’s worth downloading the trial version to see how well it works with your favorite Windows games and other Windows software. Read our full CrossOver for Mac review 4. Whisky: Best for Windows games on Mac Pros Free, open-source app Works with Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit Supports DX12 Cons Supports fewer games than CrossOver No technical support Will no longer be developed Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Whisky Free View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It the main reason you want to run Windows on your Mac is so you can play Windows games on your Mac this is the solution for you. Just be aware that the developer of Whisky has said he will no longer be updating the software, so it’s days may well be numbered. Whisky emerged following Apple’s launch of the Game Porting Toolkit in 2023 and is based on GPTK and is focused on running Windows games rather than more serious business software that the other VM solutions focus on.  Whisky isn’t an emulator or virtualization program, like Parallels Desktop or UTM. Rather than letting you run Windows on a virtual machine, it’s more like CrossOver in that it allows you to run a variety of Windows apps and software on your Mac without needing to install Windows. CrossOver and Whisky – and even Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit – are all based on the open-source WINE (see below for our review of WINE), which acts as a translation layer that converts the programming code in Windows apps and software into the Mac equivalent (a bit like Apple’s own Rosetta software, which translates software written for older Intel Macs to run on Macs with Apple Silicon processors). Whisky is a free, open-source alternative to CrossOver (CrossOver is also open-source, but has a $64 annual ‘license fee’ for technical support). Whisky allows you to create bottles, which are files that act as a container for the Windows apps you want to run. The bottles provide compatibility with various versions of Windows (right back to Windows 7 and XP for 32-bit era games). Once a bottle is created press Run to launch the installer program for the Windows game and that game then becomes part of that bottle. Whisky also allows you to install the Windows version of Steam within a bottle and install Windows games that you own on Steam in that bottle. In comparison to CrossOver, Whisky isn’t quite as easy to use, lacks the step-by-step help, and doesn’t work with the same wide range of games, but Whisky still does an impressive job for a free open-source app that was developed by just one person (and a 17 year old one at that). In our tests Whisky had no trouble at all with Call Of Cthulhu from 2018 and Guild Wars 2, providing very good performance on my MacBook Pro with M2 processor. Whisky supports a number of Windows games that use Microsoft’s DX12 graphics software. However, it doesn’t currently work with games such as Diablo IV and Fortnite. There’s a list of compatible games on the Whisky website. Read our full Whisky review 5. UTM Virtual Machines: Good value emulator Pros Affordable/free option for running Windows on Mac Runs on Intel and Apple Silicon Runs older versions of Windows and Linux Cons More complex than its rivals No tech-support Price When Reviewed: $9.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mac App Store $9.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket UTM Virtual Machines from Turing Software is currently sitting at no.1 on the Business section of the Mac App Store. It costs $9.99/£9.99 on the Mac App Store, but, because UTM is an open-source project, there’s also a free version–simply called UTM–available on the Turing website. UTM can run on Macs with either Intel or Apple Silicon processors (running macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later). It provides two different options depending on the type of Mac you’re using–virtualization and emulation. So, if you have an Intel Mac, UTM can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs the Intel version of Windows. And, if you have a Mac with Apple Silicon you can use virtualization to create a virtual machine that runs Windows On Arm. But, if you want to run the older Intel version of Windows on a Mac with Apple Silicon, then UTM will use emulation in order to run Window since that version isn’t designed for the Mac processors. Virtualization provides better performance, but emulation is useful if you need to run Windows apps or software that require a specific version of Windows. Having those two options available within UTM makes it a more versatile than Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, which focus on virtualization rather than emulation. However, this adds complexity to UTM, and the app lacks the polished interface and ease of use of Parallels and VMware. You’ll need a basic understanding of Windows disk image files, such as ISO and VHDX, in order to download and install your copy of Windows. Don’t expect the level of step-by-step help available in Parallels Desktop. Performance is good, though. The one weakness is that UTM doesn’t currently support 3D graphics acceleration on its Windows virtual machines, which means that you won’t be able to play most Windows games that have 3D graphics. But if you just want to run business apps or check out the new AI features in Windows, then UTM is a good, low-cost option that will appeal to developers and technical users. Read our full UTM Virtual Machines review 6. Windows 365 Cloud PC – Cloud based Windows from a Mac Pros Can run Windows on your Mac and also your iPad or iPhone. Cons Needs a fast – and always on – Internet connection. Expensive. Price When Reviewed: $31 – $66 per month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $31 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Windows 365 (which launched in July 2021) has the potential to really challenge traditional virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. However, at the moment, Windows 365 is still pretty expensive and is very much aimed at large corporate users, rather than the individuals and smaller businesses that tend to use Parallels and Fusion. Microsoft describes Windows 365 as a Cloud PC, but its technical notes make it clear that Windows 365 is a form of virtual machine. The difference is that Parallels and Fusion create virtual machines that are stored locally on your Mac itself, and these virtual machines rely on your Mac’s own processor power, memory and storage to run Windows and Windows apps. In contrast, Windows 365 creates a virtual machine that is stored up in the cloud, and runs on Microsoft’s own servers. The video image for the Windows desktop on your cloud PC is then streamed to your Mac – or any other device, such as an iPad or even another Windows PC – via your broadband connection. This form of virtual machine can work well, as long as you have a fast enough – and always-on – Internet connection. But, as mentioned, Windows 365 is quite expensive, with prices ranging from $31/£26.40 to $66/£56.20 per month. That’s compared to $99.99/£89.99 for a full year for the home user version of Parallels Desktop, while Fusion even has a completely free version for home users and students. Windows 365 certainly has appeal to larger businesses that want to provide a standardized cloud PC that their staff can connect to from any location that has an Internet connection – it’s ideal for hybrid working and the ‘new normal’. However, it’s too expensive for ordinary home users, students and smaller businesses, so existing users of Parallels and Fusion will probably want to stick with those apps for the time being. Read more here: How to use Windows 365 on Mac, iPad and iPhone. 7. Wine: Free, but complex Pros Free. Cons Not really for beginners. Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Wine Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket As we mentioned above, the third technology option – after Boot Camp and virtualization – is Wine, which allows you to run Windows apps without Windows itself. Version 8 of Wine arrived at the end of January 2023, like version 7.5 of Wine, which arrived in March 2022, Wine still runs on M1 and M2 Macs via Rosetta 2. Wine 8 includes support for the latest versions of the Vulkan graphics engine and Microsoft Direct3D. It also adds support for the OCSP networking protocol. If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands a bit dirty, then Wine is an unusual but feasible option for running Windows software on your Mac. Like VirtualBox, Wine is an open-source program that you can download for free. However, it doesn’t use conventional virtualization technology to create a virtual machine for installing Windows – in fact, Wine is the only program in this group that doesn’t even require a copy of Windows at all. Instead, Wine acts as a kind of software middleman that translates the programming routines – called APIs – in Windows apps so that they can talk directly to macOS, without needing a full copy of Windows itself. And as you don’t need a lot of extra memory or processor power in order to run Windows, you may find that Wine can actually provide better performance than using a virtual machine (especially for games and graphics apps). Wine also gets very regular updates from a team of dedicated developers who provide the software for free. The downside is that Wine can be spectacularly confusing for beginners – to the point where we can only really recommend it to hobbyists who like a bit of a challenge. CodeWeavers CrossOver for Mac is a little easier to use than Wine, despite being closely related to the software. But of course Wine is free, which is a big bonus. 8. VirtualBox: Free, but not easy Pros Free for personal/educational use. Cons Very complicated, not for beginners Price When Reviewed: Free (personal/education); $61 per user (Enterprise Edition – minimum 100 users) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Oracle Free View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket This open-source virtualization program is free for personal use – but it’s more at home in a corporate environment. VirtualBox is a bit of a mixed bag. Like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, it allows you to create a virtual machine that can run Windows and Windows apps from within macOS itself. You’ll need to purchase a Windows license for installation and a special version of Windows, Windows On ARM, for Apple Silicon Macs. If you want it for personal or educational use then VirtualBox is free. The disadvantage of open-source software is that VirtualBox isn’t as polished or easy to use as Parallels or Fusion. As the program is free, you also don’t get any technical support and the 200-page manual is designed for IT managers and developers, making even simple tasks like changing the virtual machine window resolution baffling. Luckily there is a busy user forum where you can ask a few questions when you need to. Which is a good thing because VirtualBox throws a lot of jargon at you and if you don’t know the difference between a virtual hard disk and a virtual machine disk then you might find it a bit tricky to get started. Version 7.1 did introduce a new StartUp Wizard to simplify the setup process with separate ‘Basic’ and ‘Expert’ modes. However, this only partially addresses the program’s complex interface, and creating a Windows VM from a Windows 11 On ARM disk image on our M2 MacBook Pro took several attempts. Version 7.1 also added support for Apple Silicon (aka M-series Macs). The support for Apple Silicon is limited though. VirtualBox can run Windows VMs in its own window or in ‘Seamless’ mode, where individual Windows apps run as native Mac apps. However, we found apps in Seamless mode sometimes move around on the screen, leaving odd graphical after-images. We also experienced occasional crashes when shutting down the Windows VM. Oracle is really aiming VirtualBox at large corporations that have a proper IT department to help them out. However, business users do need to pay £49/$61 for the VirtualBox Enterprise edition, and you may need to commit to buying 100 licenses at a time, which pretty much rules it out for all but the largest businesses, or educational users who are prepared to tackle the free version. Read our full VirtualBox review 9. Apple Boot Camp: Intel only Pros Windows can run at full speed because its not being run at the same time as macOS. Cons Intel only. Absent from M-series Macs. You can’t run Windows and macOS at the same time. You can’t run Windows 11. Price When Reviewed: Free; preinstalled on macOS Using dual-boot rather than virtualization technology, Boot Camp provides the best performance for Intel-based Macs that need to run Windows. (As we explained above, M1 or later Macs do not offer Boot Camp). It’s important to make a distinction between Boot Camp and the virtualization programs that we look at here, such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. Instead of creating a virtual machine that allows you to run Mac and Windows apps together at the same time, Boot Camp is a dual-boot system that simply allows you to boot (start) your Mac using either the native macOS or Windows (but not both at the same time). Thanks to Boot Camp your Mac can act as a straightforward Windows PC, and devote all its processor power and memory to running Windows and your Windows apps. And, crucially, if your Mac has a decent graphics card, it can use the full power of the graphics card to help run your Windows software. That’s definitely the best option for people who need to run high-end graphics software or 3D games, as you get much better performance than when running Windows in a virtual machine. The disadvantage of using Boot Camp is that you lose access to all your Mac apps while you’re running Windows. If you use Apple Mail for your emails then you’ll need to shut down Windows and Boot Camp, and switch back to macOS every time you want to send or receive an email. And, if truth be told, the current version of BootCamp 6.1 isn’t quite as straightforward to set up as it used to be. Previous versions of Boot Camp did all the work for you – they would partition your hard drive, install Windows from a normal installer disk, and also install any driver software that you needed so that components such as your graphics card, keyboard and mouse all worked properly within Windows. Boot Camp 6.1.19 (as of August 2022) can only be used to install Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. Windows 11 requires the host computer to have a TPM (trusted platform module) which Macs don’t have (some VM solutions, such as Parallels, can allow Macs with a T2 chip to run Windows 11). Since not all Macs will work with all versions of Windows, so before you even start to run the Boot Camp Assistant you’ll need to check the compatibility tables on Apple’s website to see which version of Windows will work on your Mac. You can’t install Windows from an old installer disk anymore either, so you’ll either have to download a disk image file for Windows – called an ISO file – from Microsoft’s own website, or use your Windows disk to create one. Boot Camp includes driver software for setting up Windows 8 and Windows 10, but if you’re a fan of Windows 7 (which some people prefer for gaming) then you’ll have to hunt around on Apple’s website for the drivers you need and make sure you follow the correct procedure when copying them on to your Boot Camp partition. Still, if you persevere with all that, you will eventually have Windows running at full speed on your Mac, giving you access to a wide range of Windows software and games that require more power and speed than you can get from using virtual machine technology. Just as long as you don’t have an M1 Mac… For more advice about accessories and software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks. How to run Windows on Mac: Apple Silicon vs Intel If you are still using an Intel-based Mac you can use Apple’s Boot Camp to run Windows. However, in 2020 Apple started using its own processors that are based on Arm architecture rather than the x86 architecture used by Intel. Now every Mac Apple sells has an Apple-made M-series processor. Boot Camp is not available on M-series Macs. That doesn’t mean that M-series Macs can no longer run Windows, it just means they can’t use Boot Camp and they need the Arm version of Windows. If you want to run Windows on an M-series Mac. You can choose from virtualization options like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, or emulation solutions like CrossOver and Wine, and even Microsoft’s Windows 365 service. You can read about all of these choices in our group test below as well as our individual reviews. Our top choice is Parallels Desktop, but all the others have some benefits that may suit you. For example, CrossOver doesn’t actually need a copy of Windows to run Windows apps, and there are even free options like Whisky and Wine. FAQ 1. What is a Virtual Machine? Virtualization programs such as Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion run on the macOS, but allow you to create a Virtual Machine (or VM) that mimics the hardware of a Windows PC. This makes it possible to create a VM on your Mac and then install Windows – or another operating system, such as Linux – on the VM. This is a great solution as it allows you to run the Windows apps that you need right alongside your main Mac apps as well. The only disadvantage is that you need a pretty fast Mac with plenty of memory and storage to run Windows as a VM, since it means that your Mac is effectively running two operating systems at the same time. 2. What is emulation? Emulation is a process that allows individual Windows applications to run on a Mac without the need for the Windows operating system to be installed. This is achieved through emulation tools, such as Wine and CrossOver, which are typically used by technically proficient users. 3. Do I need a Windows license? It depends on which of those two methods you are using. If you are running Windows in a VM then you need a license in order to create a Windows VM on Macs with Apple Silicon processors, and, unfortunately, the less expensive Home edition isn’t supported. However, it is possible to use an existing Windows license if you have one and Microsoft doesn’t differentiate between Windows On Intel and Windows On Arm, see Parallel’s website here. If you are using emulation you won’t need a copy of Windows. 4. How can I get the Arm version of Windows If you want to run Windows on a Mac with a M-series chip you will need the Arm version of Windows. (Although, as mentioned above, Parallels Desktop version 20.2 can run some versions of Windows that were written for Intel processors, albeit with some limitations (one being that it runs really slow). The good news is that an Arm version of Windows does exist. Windows On Aar, aka WoA, is Microsoft’s version of Windows is designed to run on ARM chips. The Arm version of Windows isn’t normally licensed to individual users. Fortunately, Parallels has worked closely with Microsoft to simplify the process of creating VMs that use the ARM version of Windows. With the arrival of Parallels Desktop 18 in 2022 Parallels gained the ability to download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. Microsoft even endorsed Parallels for Windows on M1 and M2 Macs, effectively authorizing Parallels Desktop 18 users to run Arm versions of Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Enterprise. Read our full review of Parallels Desktop for more information. To download and buy the ARM version of Windows 11 directly within Parallels itself. All you need to do is: Press the button that says Get Windows 11 From Microsoft. Parallels will download the relevant version of Windows 11 for your Mac (if your Mac has an ARM processor then it will download the ARM version of Windows 11). You can then use the Microsoft Store app within your Windows VM to purchase a license or use an existing Windows 11 license if you have one. You can also buy a license through the Download option from the Microsoft store. 5. How do I run the X86 version of Windows on a Mac One option, if your Mac has an M-series chip is Parallels Desktop – version 20.2.0 – but it will run slowly. If you are looking to run Windows on a Mac that isn’t powered by an Apple M-series chip, then you can download Windows 11 for free (as long as your Mac has the necessary specs, such as the Trusted Platform Module, to qualify for the free upgrade). Download Windows 11 from Microsoft, free upgrade as long as you qualify. You could take advantage of various deals for Windows 11 Pro including: Windows 11 Professional, $79.99 (usually $199.99). 6. Can I run Windows 11 on a Mac using VM software? You can run Windows 11 on a Mac using virtual machine (VM) software. This method allows you to run Windows and its applications alongside macOS without needing to reboot your computer. If your Mac has an M-series chip it use ARM-based processors and requires the ARM version of Windows 11, officially called Windows on ARM (WoA) or Windows 11 Arm64. You cannot run the standard Intel (x86) version of Windows on these Macs through virtualization without significant performance loss via emulation. A popular solution for accessing Windows-exclusive software, games, or development tools on a Mac is to create a “virtual machine” on your Mac, which is software that simulates the hardware of a PC. You can then install Windows 11 on this VM. To run Windows 11 in a VM, your Mac needs to be powerful enough to run two operating systems simultaneously. This means having sufficient memory (RAM), storage space, and processor power. a machine with at least 16GB of RAM is recommended for a smooth experience.

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Macworld Podcast: 2025 Apple software and services year in review
Macworld It was a big year for Apple software and services. We talk about Liquid Glass, Apple Intelligence, Apple TV, and the other services and software that shaped the company’s year. This is episode 963 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross,  and Roman Loyola. Watch episode 963 on YouTube Listen to episode 963 on Apple Podcasts

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