Apple at 50: Michael Spindler, the CEO who brought in the clones
He's Apple's Chief Operating Officer who became the CEO — but he's not Tim Cook. Instead, this was how Michael Spindler replaced John Sculley, and made himself ill trying to save the company in the 1990s.Apple CEO Michael Spindler — image credit: AppleMichael Scott was the first Apple CEO, brought in by Mike Markkula, who became the second CEO when Scott was shown the door. Markkula was then responsible along with Steve Jobs for recruiting John Sculley, until he was also shown the exit sign.But while it was Sculley who made Spindler Chief Operating Officer, and then it was the board that made him CEO, Markkula was again behind all of this. It was Markkula who recruited Spindler to join Apple in September 1980. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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'The Bonfire of the Vanities' series headed to Apple TV
Maybe the third time is the charm. Writer/producer David E. Kelley is adapting Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities" novel into a series for Apple TV, with "The Batman" director Matt Reeves.Apple TV is dramatizing "The Bonfire of the Vanities" — image credit: AppleDavid E. Kelley is still best known for "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" shows, but he's also the writer of Apple TV's "Presumed Innocent" and "Margo's Got Money Troubles." Now according to Deadline, he's dramatizing Tom Wolfe's famous 1987 novel of greed and Wall Street money.Not to spoil the story, but as excellent as it is, Wolfe's novel feels as if it fades out rather than have a big finish, which has made it difficult to successfully adapt. It was filmed in 1990, with Tom Hanks starring and Brian DePalma directing from a screenplay by Michael Cristofer, but that was a flop. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The Tim Cook era: Apple’s most important products from 2016-today
Macworld On April 1, 1976, three visionaries decided to start building computers at a humble, California-based garage. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak took care of marketing and hardware, while Ronald Wayne briefly assisted with administration. Success was far from guaranteed at the time, and Apple Computer Company had to undergo multiple evolutions before earning its current status as the most influential corporation. And it’s not even close to slowing down. In the last 10 years alone, Apple has put out one of the most dramatic iPhone redesigns, a couple of groundbreaking gadgets, plus a ton of other advancements in tablet and desktop computing. Here’s a look at the most noteworthy products released between 2016 and today: September 2016: AirPods Roman Loyola/IDG When Apple made the controversial decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it created a problem that needed a solution. The wireless AirPods were more than that. While they were the butt of more than a few jokes after their debut, AirPods popularized the wireless earbud format, pushing rivals to develop their own copycat models. Apple has since rounded out the lineup with the higher-end AirPods Pro and over-ear AirPods Max, along with tight ecosystem integrations, including Hearing Protection, Spatial Audio, Find My, and other handy perks that contribute to their undeniable popularity. September 2017: iPhone X Foundry Everyone knew something big was coming at the 2017 iPhone event, but no one was prepared for Apple to reinvent the phone again. To mark the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, Apple unveiled the iPhone X with a “One more thing” announcement, and it was worth the fanfare. The revolutionary redesign did away with the classic Home button and thick bezels and made way for Face ID, gesture navigation, and the first Liquid Retina display with rounded corners and an edge-to-edge aesthetic. The iPhone has been through numerous updates since the iPhone X’s unveiling, but the impact of the all-screen design and multi-touch navigation continues to be felt across all of Apple’s product lines. September 2018: Apple Watch Series 4 Apple In 2018, the Apple Watch Series 4 debuted, featuring the first major design overhaul. The smartwatch offered larger size options and a sharper display with rounder corners and slimmer bezels.  But the biggest chance wasn’t the design. The Apple Watch Series 4 leaned heavily into health, with a new electrical heart rate sensor, the first ECG sensor, Fall Detection, the ability to detect Atrial Fibrillation, and other fitness enhancements. The Apple Watch Series 4’s design still feels fresh today on the SE 3, and its focus on wellness is on full display on the latest Apple Watch Series 11. October 2018: 3rd-gen iPad Pro Foundry When the first iPad Pro arrived in 2015, it was basically a larger version of the iPad we already knew. In 2018, it came into its own with a transformative design upgrade.  Smaller, skinnier, and drop-dead gorgeous, the 3rd-gen iPad Pro was the start of a years-long tablet redesign that dropped the Home button, slimmed down the bezels, and adopted the iPhone X’s Liquid Retina display. Apart from the all-screen look, the iPad Pro also adopted the universal USB-C port and introduced the Apple Pencil 2, which magically attached to the top edge when charging. October 2020: M1 Macs Jason Cross/Foundry 2020 was the year that changed everything for the Mac. While Apple had been through processor changes before, the Mac’s transition from Intel chips to Apple silicon wasn’t a mere chip upgrade. The shift unlocked higher power and efficiency levels, making Macs significantly more reliable and efficient, and dramatically boosting performance and battery life.  Apple launched the M1 chip in three existing Macs—the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini—to showcase its raw power. But it wasn’t just speed—Apple silicon also introduced support for iOS apps on the Mac and made it easier for developers to optimize their iPhone apps for the Mac. Today, M chips can also be found in higher-end iPads, unlocking unrivaled capabilities in impossibly thin tablets. April 2021: AirTag Foundry Despite its small size, the launch of the AirTag in 2021 had a remarkable impact on how we keep track of our personal belongings. For just $29, any iPhone user can find the exact location of a tagged item—as long as another Apple user is in its vicinity. Thanks to a network of billions of iPhones, the Find My network is the most reliable of its kind, outdoing third-party solutions like Tile and others.  Countless stories have been shared about how AirTag was able to locate misplaced baggage while traveling, stolen cars, bikes, wallets, and even pets. It may not be the fanciest Apple product, but it has certainly been one of the most valuable introductions of the past decade. June 2023: Vision Pro David Price / Foundry After years of rumors, Apple finally kick-started its spatial computing era with the Vision Pro. Announced at WWDC 2023, the headset utilizes several cameras and sensors to 3D-map and analyze users’ surroundings. It then generates a virtual reality where users get to pick the level of immersion.  With visionOS, users can place floating app windows and widgets anywhere in their view, turning any room into a large digital canvas. While its $3,499 price tag has barred most iPhone users from even considering buying one, the Vision Pro gives us an early glimpse of Apple’s vision for the future of computing. March 2026: MacBook Neo Foundry Perhaps the most recent impactful Apple release of the past 10 years is its newest: the low-cost MacBook Neo. Starting at $499 for students and educators, this MacBook is the cheapest, most accessible laptop Apple has ever made.  While some power users will naturally complain about its A18 Pro iPhone chip, the device isn’t for them. It’s Apple’s first laptop made for switchers, students, and kids who need a reliable machine for web browsing, checking emails, handling documents, and light photo or video editing. Given Apple’s established reputation and the MacBook’s premium build, Neo is bound to disrupt the affordable laptop market for years to come. This is part five of a five-part series exploring 50 years of Apple product releases. You can catch up on anything you missed here: (1976-1985; 1986-1995; 1996-2005; 2006-2015).

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Who’s in Apple’s top 10? Here’s the full list of the most influential people of all time
Macworld April 1 marks Apple’s 50th anniversary, a milestone it couldn’t reach without the help of some very talented people. So we decided to put together a list of the 50 people who made Apple the company it is today. Some worked there for just a year or two; others for almost the entire half-century, while others never actually worked for the company at all. But all influenced Apple’s journey in some profound way. This is all, of course, deeply subjective. It is very unlikely that every reader will agree with the author’s selections, far less with his rankings. Which is fine, we welcome the conversation. Our only rule is that if you complain about someone’s exclusion, tell us who you would cut to make room. We’ve reached the top 10: What did we get wrong? Drop us a message on Bluesky or Threads. 50-41 50. Katie Cotton Apple PR legend Katie Cotton joined Apple in 1996, shortly before the return of Steve Jobs, and worked closely with him for the next 15 years. For better or worse, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s communications strategy and famous culture of secrecy, fiercely controlling Apple’s portrayal in the press. As we wrote upon her retirement in 2014, she “largely turned public relations on its head.” Cotton sadly passed away in 2023, but like Jobs himself, her legacy lives on in Apple Park.

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Enough looking back, what do Apple’s next 10 years look like?
Macworld It’s unusual for a major technology company to not only survive and grow for a half century, but to steadily increase its cultural relevance and market dominance. A lot of time has been spent this week looking back at the last 50 years and the products, people, and events that make Apple special. It naturally leads one to ask: What about the next 50 years? Honestly, it’s impossible to predict. Even the most respected futurists and prognosticators have all been proven wrong, time and again, when trying to guess what the world will be like in half a century. Nobody predicted the technology landscape of 2026 back in 1976. But we can at least look forward 10 years. A decade feels like an eternity in tech, but it’s a horizon we can at least see from here. Out with the old guard Apple has gone through a number of leadership changes over the years, but executive turnover has been relatively low lately. The next decade is likely to be different. By the time 2036 rolls around, the Apple Leadership page is going to look very different. Tim Cook has been rumored to be on the verge of retirement for a while, likely to be replaced by hardware chief John Ternus. Maybe that will happen in a year, maybe two, or three, but no way does Cook go another 10 years without retiring. Apple’s John Ternus could be the next CEO once Tim Cook retires.Apple/Youtube That will mean a new CEO and a new Senior VP of Hardware, but there are a number of other executives who are likely to make their exit as well: Services and Health VP Eddy Cue is 61 and has been with Apple since 1989. Software boss Craig Federighi is 57 and worked at NeXT, joining Apple when it was acquired, then left, before coming back again 17 years ago. Greg “Joe” Joswiack, who replaced Phil Schiller as marketing VP in 2020, is 62 and has been with Apple since 1986. COO Sabih Khan just replaced Jeff Williams last year, but is 60 and has been with Apple since 1995. Retail chief Dierdre O’Brian is also 60 and has been with Apple since 1988. Chip architect Johny Srouji is 62 and has been at Apple since 2008, when he joined to lead development of Apple’s first in-house system-on-chip, the A4. In other words, most of the key players at the top of Apple’s org chart are going to be 70 or older in 2036 and will have been with the company for decades. Smart money says most will retire before Apple’s 60th anniversary. Nobody can really tell you what this wholesale change in Apple leadership, from the CEO down, is going to mean for the direction of the company. Apple has cultivated a strong corporate culture, but new leadership always comes with changes in priority and process. The iPhone still reigns supreme The tech media is always looking for the next big thing, and is quick to proclaim that we’ll all be using some totally different gadget in just a few years. In reality, it takes a long time to shift the habits and preferences of billions of people. Software and services can move quickly. Social media took over society in record time. AI is spreading like wildfire. But hardware is slower. Facebook was so sure that we’d all be strapped into VR headsets all day that it bought Oculus for a whopping $2 billion. That was 12 years ago, and VR is still a niche technology. Laptops overtook desktops as the dominant computing platform 20 years ago, and both are still used every day, with hundreds of millions of sales per year. Apple will surely enter new product categories over the next decade, but the iPhone will still reign supreme.Apple So yes, Apple will introduce new hardware. Smart glasses. A cheaper Vision headset. All sorts of smart home accessories, from robotic hubs to cameras and more. Some might even sell very well. But the iPhone will remain at the center of the Apple universe. Its form factor will evolve—some will fold (horizontally or vertically), the camera bump will change size and shape, the button layout will get tweaked, and the holes in the screen for cameras will move and resize. In a recent interview, Tim Cook said, “The iPhone is going to be around for a very long time. There’s so much left we can do with the iPhone. And I think it’s going to continue to be the center of people’s digital lives.” Spatial Computing stalls When Apple announced Vision Pro, it coined a new buzzword for AR/VR experiences: Spatial Computing. At the time, Tim Cook hailed it as the next step, the next evolution of personal computing after desktop, laptop, and mobile. Then, generative AI blew up and everything changed. The fact is, even without the pivot to AI, spatial computing is sort of a solution in search of a problem. Mixed reality is great for consuming entertainment, sports, or playing games. It’s a lot less useful for all the everyday tasks that we use our MacBooks and iPhones for. Like transparent displays, VR/AR is one of those things that looks cool in the movies but doesn’t quite hold up in real life. Spatial Computing has a long way to go before it hits the mainstream.Foundry I’m sure if you walked through the Apple offices in Cupertino, I’m willing to bet you’d would find that the vast majority of employees are not at their desks with Vision Pro headsets on. If it delivered a real productivity boost, even a small one, Apple employees would all be wearing them while working. We haven’t seen any evidence of that. Apple will get better at VR. Lower-cost headsets will come in the next decade, and the software will get better. But Spatial Computing will still be something that people do on the side, primarily as a way to consume and not create. At best, these Vision products will end up like iPads: a popular secondary device you use when you want to do specific things or escape for a while. AI software begets AI hardware The real growth category for Apple will be AI-powered hardware accessories. Apple, like every tech company, is investing heavily in a wide variety of AI initiatives and partnerships. Right now, none of it is great. Eventually, some of these bets will pay off, and Apple’s AI will stop being a joke and start being a real strength. But Apple doesn’t want to sell software, really. It was to sell things that run Apple’s software. That’s much harder to compete with at Apple’s level and a lot more profitable. That’s how Apple’s AI future is really going to manifest: in new AI-first products. Apple intelligence will surely spawn a variety of new products over the next 10 years.Foundry Apple will likely start simple, with new smart speakers and cameras that can recognize what they’re looking at in order to trigger actions. Privacy will be Apple’s selling point: processing done on-device, or in special cloud infrastructure that minimizes data collection. But before the decade is out, Apple will introduce real assistants. Siri with an actual personality. A tabletop display/camera/speaker on a robotic arm that moves and gestures like it’s alive. Perhaps the most successful “AI accessory” Apple sells will be smart glasses, which could show up in its first iteration as soon as next year. As opposed to more complicated, difficult, and expensive augmented reality glasses that have to integrate 3D graphics into the space around you, smart glasses have either no display or a “heads-up display” fixed in place in front of you. Like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, but with Apple design, branding, software, and services, and Apple’s reputation for privacy and security. Apple will profit from selling a variety of AI-first devices, but more importantly, they’ll make the lock-in effect to the Apple ecosystem stronger than ever. A whole category of products that exist as a medium to interact with advanced AI and other Apple services–that’s Apple’s next big growth area. What Apple won’t do Just as important as looking at what Apple is going to do and change in the next decade is considering where things will stay the same. Services, for example, will expand as expected. Particularly in Health, though it wouldn’t surprise me to see a paid AI service from Apple, or a bigger subscription play in sports. But major new service initiatives into areas in which Apple isn’t already involved–like when the company launched a streaming TV service–are probably not in the cards. Apple’s services expansion will be in existing areas of focus, from tools for creative professionals (hello, Apple Creator Studio) to music, TV, health, maps, sports, and news. Apple probably won’t figure out how to do games over the next 10 years.Foundry Apple still won’t figure out premium gaming. The iPhone will dominate mobile gaming, of course, but Apple doesn’t know or isn’t willing to do what it takes to make the Mac a popular gaming device, or the Apple TV box, or anything else that relies on a steady stream of day-one AAA titles. Apple doesn’t “get” gaming, and there’s no sign that it’s about to. The company will also not change its stance on its draconian control over its software ecosystem. Every ounce of freedom that users get to use Apple’s products the way they want, to run the software they want, paid for the way they want, will be gained under duress. Developers will get to make and distribute software without Apple’s explicit blessing only under court order. Apple considers the ability to develop and sell software for its products to be a gift it benevolently bestows upon the world, and that attitude isn’t going to change in 10 years. And despite the increasingly important role of social networks in society, Apple won’t start its own. Trading in personal information is anathema to the company’s values, and even though Apple’s meager official social media presence will increase a lot in the next decade, it won’t ever run its own service. Apple can still surprise us A lot of what Apple will get up to over the next decade has already been telegraphed, through interviews, leaks, and product roadmap so predictable that relatively minor changes, like a cheaper MacBook, are hailed as massive company shifts. But Apple can still surprise us. The touchscreen Mac we all thought would never happen now appears to be on the way. MacBook Neo could be the start of a series of Apple “budget” products—real budget products, not the iPhone “e” line that still costs twice what a budget smartphone does. Apple is not exactly a surprising company. Innovative, but rarely first. But ten years is a long time, and plenty of time for something new to come out of left field. After all, five years ago nobody was even thinking about generative AI, and now the entire tech industry, including Apple, is spending unlimited money, power, water, and other resources to cram it into everything. The most surprising change in Apple over the next ten years will probably come from a global shift that nobody is even aware of yet.

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This Apple TV show is one of the ten most popular originals in the United States right now
Another Apple TV show has appeared in the Nielsen chart for streaming originals in the US, which is by no means a guarantee given the relatively small size of the streamer. The second season debut of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters just scraped in the Top 10 at position 10, with 467 million minutes viewed for the week of March 2 – March 8. more…

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Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook review: Fast with special guest stars
Macworld At a glance Pros Thunderbolt 5 19 ports Integrated M.2 slot for an SSD Dedicated function keys Optical audio KonstantCharge for undocked peripherals Cons Premium price 180W power supply lesser than rivals Our Verdict For the premium price you get a lot of connectivity (19 ports!) and a tidy storage M.2 enclosure that you can upgrade as and when you wish, not when and with what Apple demands. The optical audio port, CompactFlash slot and hot keys are nice extras rarely found on docking stations. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$449.99 Best Prices Today: Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook Retailer Price $389.49 View Deal Kensington $449.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Kensington’s EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook, known to its friends as the SD7100TS, is a dock stacked with 19 ports, a dedicated SSD slot for you to add extra storage, and special Mac hot keys for easy iPhone photo backup and a Focus Mode. It even has “Designed for MacBook” on the box, but this could be because Windows hasn’t quite caught the Thunderbolt 5 wave yet. This is a horizontal docking station with solid good looks in a gunmetal-gray with nicely rounded corners. Dock specs One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 30W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W) Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W) Ethernet (2.5Gb) NVMe M.2 SSD slot (up to8TB) UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps) UHS-II microSD card reader (312MBps) One 3.5mm combo audio In/Out jack (front) One 3.5mm audio In jack (back) One 3.5mm audio Out jack (back) One TOSLINK optical audio (back) 180W power supply Simon Jary Kensington has decided against including a dedicated video port such as HDMI or DisplayPort in favor of the full set of Thunderbolt 5 ports. While that might mean you have to supply your own USB-C to HDMI/DP adapter cable if your monitor doesn’t support a USB-C/Thunderbolt connection, it does offer you more flexibility in choosing what you want each port to do. If a dock has a DisplayPort or HDMI port, for instance, and you want to connect via Thunderbolt, that video port is wasted. Having the maximum three downstream Thunderbolt 5 docks gives you the freedom to decide what to use each port for. Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 3, so even if your Mac isn’t yet built for TB5, you can rest assured that it will work with earlier Thunderbolt versions and be ready for your eventual TB5 Mac upgrade. Thunderbolt 5 Macs get 80Gbps data-transfer rates and up to 120Gbps in Bandwidth Boost mode for top-end video demands. One TB5 port is “upstream”, meaning it connects to your Mac. The other three are “downstream” for connecting other devices such as monitors and storage drives. Simon Jary Power One TB5 port is at the front, which might suit you but strikes me as odd and a potential cause of cable-clutter, especially as there is a 30W 10Gbps USB-C port at the front already—nicely placed for charging your iPhone or even connecting a wireless charger. Also at the front is another 10Gbps USB-C port with a weaker 7.5W power rating. The Thunderbolt ports are rated at 15W. The four legacy USB-A ports are not up to much charging at just 4.5W. Indeed, the EQ Pro feels a bit under-powered, with a max 180W power supply. The PD 3.1-rated upstream Thunderbolt 5 port is great, supplying up to 140W: enough to fast-charge even the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the 30W USB-C is meaty. The other ports probably have all the power your connected devices require but in comparison the CalDigit TS5 Plus has 330W for its two 36W TB5 ports and 36W USB-C, and the Sonnet Echo 13 has a 60W TB5 port. A “KonstantCharge” feature allows devices to be charged even when the dock isn’t connected to a laptop, so you can use it like a desktop charger. In his charging tests my PCWorld colleague Mark Hachman found the 30W charging port delivered 28.6W under load, and the other USB-C port provided about 6W. The downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports delivered 13.6W of power. On the back of the dock is a power button, which we appreciate as many docking stations don’t have them. Although modern devices have sophisticated battery safeguards and battery management, I prefer not to keep my MacBook constantly connected to a power source. Yes, I can pull the cable out but an On/Off button is cleaner and less wearing on the hardware. The power supply is rated at 180W, so is the maximum shared power load the dock can supply. With a possible 240W of port power potential, plus the power needed by the dock and SSD slot, that 18W is not up to the full load. Other docks offer 240W (or even 300W for the CalDigit TS5 Plus), which would have made more sense than an under-powered 180W power supply. It’s likely that 180W will be enough at most times, but a 240W charger would have been a more sensible choice from Kensington. Network speed The dock matches similar Thunderbolt 5 docks with a faster 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. Even if your network is stuck at 1Gb Gigabit Ethernet, it’s backwards compatible so builds in more future-proofing to your setup. Audio From an audio perspective, as well as a single 3.5mm combination mic/headphone jack on the front of the dock, there are separate mic, speaker, and headphone I/O ports, plus an optical connection to pass lossless audio to some high-end audio systems—a boon for those editing video or audio. Simon Jary Hotkeys Another curiosity bonus feature is the set of two hotkeys on the top of the dock; pictured above. These include one for backing up your iPhone photos and videos to your Mac or SSD plus another offering a Focus Mode for Mac, including ‘Do Not Disturb’, or you can customize the buttons for other functions using the Kensington Konnect. Turning on Do Not Disturb is pretty easy anyway via Control Center in the Mac’s top menu bar, but it’s undeniably a little easier with a physical button. Play around in the software to hone these buttons to your own one-touch functionality requirements. Portable storage At the front are two fast UHS-II SD/MicroSD card reader slots, and as a surprise bonus even CF 4.0 (CompactFlash) card slot that will please those professional photographers who use older high-end DSLRs that require it. The EQ Pro is the only modern docking station we’ve seen with one of these. Simon Jary Super store A feature that is becoming more common with docking stations is an integrated PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure. This is usually found on the bottom of the dock, but the Kensington EQ Pro has it on the top, secured by a screw on one side of the dock itself; see our photo above. You’ll need your own tiny Phillips cross-head screwdriver as Kensington doesn’t include one in the box—other dock makers such as Ugreen and iVanky do include a screwdriver, so this will be missed as you search your office or home for one the right size. Apple doesn’t make MacBook storage cheap—the 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with 1TB as the base level, with 2TB costing an extra $400 and 4TB a whopping $1,000! Once you’ve purchased, you can’t go back to add more. The dock doesn’t come with an NVMe M.2 SSD, unlike the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock that is sold as 1TB ($479), 2TB ($649) and 4TB ($999) models. Go to Amazon to find a NVMe M.2 SSD from a reliable brand, such as Samsung, WD and SanDisk. 1TB should cost around $150-200, 2TB around $350 and 4TB $600-700. Storage prices are notoriously volatile so you find them more affordable or more expensive when you’re searching for one. Many users will use a dock to add two external displays, but the latest M5 Pro/Max chips will allow three or four via daisy-chaining.Kensington Displays: M5 Pro/Max mean more monitors While Thunderbolt 4 docks continue to be capped at two external displays on the Mac, the latest top-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips support up to three external displays with the Kensington EQ Pro. The M5 Max can handle four but as there aren’t enough ports to hang so many monitors off you’ll need to daisy-chain the fourth screen from the third. Maximum resolution for a dual-monitor setup is two 6K monitors at 60Hz. A single 8K/60Hz display is possible with M5/M4 Base/Pro/Max plus Pro/Max versions of the M1/M2/M3 chipped Macs. On one end of the EQ Pro are two Kensington security slots plus the screw to take off the dock’s lid to reveal the hidden SSD enclosure.Simon Jary Kensington EQ Pro performance From a performance standpoint, Kensington’s dock was slightly slower than other Thunderbolt 5 docks tested by my colleague Mark: the Sonnet Echo 13 transferred data from our test SSD at about 436MBps, while the Plugable TBT-UDT3 was about the same. Kensington’s drive transferred data at 398MBps, or 9% slower. The EQ Pro boasts more ports, though, remember. We copied multiple gigabytes of data from a folder on my desktop to the dock’s SSD. The dock performed normally, taking about 16 seconds. (Sonnet’s dock is the fastest here, at about 14 seconds.) While streaming, that dropped to 17.3 seconds. Obviously, that difference would enlarge the more data you transferred at a time. Our tests found that that SSD inside Kensington’s dock performed essentially the same as the Razer Thunderbolt Dock Chroma, another Thunderbolt 5 dock with an M.2. SSD slot, when performing a folder copy: 16.8 seconds by itself, and 17.5 seconds while streaming 4K video. Foundry / Mark Hachman Price The Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station is priced at $449.99. For a dock with this many ports this is comparable with the 15-port $399 CalDigit TS5 or 23-port iVanky FusionDock Max 2, both of which lack the SSD enclosure. The $479 Sonnet Echo 13 has the built-in SSD slot (with SSD included from $479 for 1TB) but fewer ports and the $499 Ugreen 17-in-1 Maxidok has the slot but fewer ports, so the Kensington EQ Pro measures up well when compared to docks with that feature. To get full value from this dock you’ll want to add the SSD card, which will up the cost significantly but also massively enrich your Mac setup with a ton more upgradable storage at hand. Should you buy the Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station (SD7100TS)? $449 (plus the cost of the SSD if you want to use this dock to its full potential) is a lot of money but for the level of connectivity (19 ports!) and a tidy storage M.2 enclosure it’s more affordable than its closest rivals. The optical audio port, CompactFlash slot and hot keys are nice extras rarely found on docking stations.

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Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook review: Fast with special guest stars
Macworld At a glance Pros Thunderbolt 5 19 ports Integrated M.2 slot for an SSD Dedicated function keys Optical audio KonstantCharge for undocked peripherals Cons Premium price 180W power supply lesser than rivals Our Verdict For the premium price you get a lot of connectivity (19 ports!) and a tidy storage M.2 enclosure that you can upgrade as and when you wish, not when and with what Apple demands. The optical audio port, CompactFlash slot and hot keys are nice extras rarely found on docking stations. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$449.99 Best Prices Today: Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook Retailer Price $389.49 View Deal Kensington $449.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Kensington’s EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Dock for MacBook, known to its friends as the SD7100TS, is a dock stacked with 19 ports, a dedicated SSD slot for you to add extra storage, and special Mac hot keys for easy iPhone photo backup and a Focus Mode. It even has “Designed for MacBook” on the box, but this could be because Windows hasn’t quite caught the Thunderbolt 5 wave yet. This is a horizontal docking station with solid good looks in a gunmetal-gray with nicely rounded corners. Dock specs One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 30W) One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W) Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W) Ethernet (2.5Gb) NVMe M.2 SSD slot (up to8TB) UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps) UHS-II microSD card reader (312MBps) One 3.5mm combo audio In/Out jack (front) One 3.5mm audio In jack (back) One 3.5mm audio Out jack (back) One TOSLINK optical audio (back) 180W power supply Simon Jary Kensington has decided against including a dedicated video port such as HDMI or DisplayPort in favor of the full set of Thunderbolt 5 ports. While that might mean you have to supply your own USB-C to HDMI/DP adapter cable if your monitor doesn’t support a USB-C/Thunderbolt connection, it does offer you more flexibility in choosing what you want each port to do. If a dock has a DisplayPort or HDMI port, for instance, and you want to connect via Thunderbolt, that video port is wasted. Having the maximum three downstream Thunderbolt 5 docks gives you the freedom to decide what to use each port for. Thunderbolt 5 (TB5) is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 3, so even if your Mac isn’t yet built for TB5, you can rest assured that it will work with earlier Thunderbolt versions and be ready for your eventual TB5 Mac upgrade. Thunderbolt 5 Macs get 80Gbps data-transfer rates and up to 120Gbps in Bandwidth Boost mode for top-end video demands. One TB5 port is “upstream”, meaning it connects to your Mac. The other three are “downstream” for connecting other devices such as monitors and storage drives. Simon Jary Power One TB5 port is at the front, which might suit you but strikes me as odd and a potential cause of cable-clutter, especially as there is a 30W 10Gbps USB-C port at the front already—nicely placed for charging your iPhone or even connecting a wireless charger. Also at the front is another 10Gbps USB-C port with a weaker 7.5W power rating. The Thunderbolt ports are rated at 15W. The four legacy USB-A ports are not up to much charging at just 4.5W. Indeed, the EQ Pro feels a bit under-powered, with a max 180W power supply. The PD 3.1-rated upstream Thunderbolt 5 port is great, supplying up to 140W: enough to fast-charge even the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the 30W USB-C is meaty. The other ports probably have all the power your connected devices require but in comparison the CalDigit TS5 Plus has 330W for its two 36W TB5 ports and 36W USB-C, and the Sonnet Echo 13 has a 60W TB5 port. A “KonstantCharge” feature allows devices to be charged even when the dock isn’t connected to a laptop, so you can use it like a desktop charger. In his charging tests my PCWorld colleague Mark Hachman found the 30W charging port delivered 28.6W under load, and the other USB-C port provided about 6W. The downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports delivered 13.6W of power. On the back of the dock is a power button, which we appreciate as many docking stations don’t have them. Although modern devices have sophisticated battery safeguards and battery management, I prefer not to keep my MacBook constantly connected to a power source. Yes, I can pull the cable out but an On/Off button is cleaner and less wearing on the hardware. The power supply is rated at 180W, so is the maximum shared power load the dock can supply. With a possible 240W of port power potential, plus the power needed by the dock and SSD slot, that 18W is not up to the full load. Other docks offer 240W (or even 300W for the CalDigit TS5 Plus), which would have made more sense than an under-powered 180W power supply. It’s likely that 180W will be enough at most times, but a 240W charger would have been a more sensible choice from Kensington. Network speed The dock matches similar Thunderbolt 5 docks with a faster 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. Even if your network is stuck at 1Gb Gigabit Ethernet, it’s backwards compatible so builds in more future-proofing to your setup. Audio From an audio perspective, as well as a single 3.5mm combination mic/headphone jack on the front of the dock, there are separate mic, speaker, and headphone I/O ports, plus an optical connection to pass lossless audio to some high-end audio systems—a boon for those editing video or audio. Simon Jary Hotkeys Another curiosity bonus feature is the set of two hotkeys on the top of the dock; pictured above. These include one for backing up your iPhone photos and videos to your Mac or SSD plus another offering a Focus Mode for Mac, including ‘Do Not Disturb’, or you can customize the buttons for other functions using the Kensington Konnect. Turning on Do Not Disturb is pretty easy anyway via Control Center in the Mac’s top menu bar, but it’s undeniably a little easier with a physical button. Play around in the software to hone these buttons to your own one-touch functionality requirements. Portable storage At the front are two fast UHS-II SD/MicroSD card reader slots, and as a surprise bonus even CF 4.0 (CompactFlash) card slot that will please those professional photographers who use older high-end DSLRs that require it. The EQ Pro is the only modern docking station we’ve seen with one of these. Simon Jary Super store A feature that is becoming more common with docking stations is an integrated PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD enclosure. This is usually found on the bottom of the dock, but the Kensington EQ Pro has it on the top, secured by a screw on one side of the dock itself; see our photo above. You’ll need your own tiny Phillips cross-head screwdriver as Kensington doesn’t include one in the box—other dock makers such as Ugreen and iVanky do include a screwdriver, so this will be missed as you search your office or home for one the right size. Apple doesn’t make MacBook storage cheap—the 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with 1TB as the base level, with 2TB costing an extra $400 and 4TB a whopping $1,000! Once you’ve purchased, you can’t go back to add more. The dock doesn’t come with an NVMe M.2 SSD, unlike the Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock that is sold as 1TB ($479), 2TB ($649) and 4TB ($999) models. Go to Amazon to find a NVMe M.2 SSD from a reliable brand, such as Samsung, WD and SanDisk. 1TB should cost around $150-200, 2TB around $350 and 4TB $600-700. Storage prices are notoriously volatile so you find them more affordable or more expensive when you’re searching for one. Many users will use a dock to add two external displays, but the latest M5 Pro/Max chips will allow three or four via daisy-chaining.Kensington Displays: M5 Pro/Max mean more monitors While Thunderbolt 4 docks continue to be capped at two external displays on the Mac, the latest top-end M5 Pro and M5 Max chips support up to three external displays with the Kensington EQ Pro. The M5 Max can handle four but as there aren’t enough ports to hang so many monitors off you’ll need to daisy-chain the fourth screen from the third. Maximum resolution for a dual-monitor setup is two 6K monitors at 60Hz. A single 8K/60Hz display is possible with M5/M4 Base/Pro/Max plus Pro/Max versions of the M1/M2/M3 chipped Macs. On one end of the EQ Pro are two Kensington security slots plus the screw to take off the dock’s lid to reveal the hidden SSD enclosure.Simon Jary Kensington EQ Pro performance From a performance standpoint, Kensington’s dock was slightly slower than other Thunderbolt 5 docks tested by my colleague Mark: the Sonnet Echo 13 transferred data from our test SSD at about 436MBps, while the Plugable TBT-UDT3 was about the same. Kensington’s drive transferred data at 398MBps, or 9% slower. The EQ Pro boasts more ports, though, remember. We copied multiple gigabytes of data from a folder on my desktop to the dock’s SSD. The dock performed normally, taking about 16 seconds. (Sonnet’s dock is the fastest here, at about 14 seconds.) While streaming, that dropped to 17.3 seconds. Obviously, that difference would enlarge the more data you transferred at a time. Our tests found that that SSD inside Kensington’s dock performed essentially the same as the Razer Thunderbolt Dock Chroma, another Thunderbolt 5 dock with an M.2. SSD slot, when performing a folder copy: 16.8 seconds by itself, and 17.5 seconds while streaming 4K video. Foundry / Mark Hachman Price The Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station is priced at $449.99. For a dock with this many ports this is comparable with the 15-port $399 CalDigit TS5 or 23-port iVanky FusionDock Max 2, both of which lack the SSD enclosure. The $479 Sonnet Echo 13 has the built-in SSD slot (with SSD included from $479 for 1TB) but fewer ports and the $499 Ugreen 17-in-1 Maxidok has the slot but fewer ports, so the Kensington EQ Pro measures up well when compared to docks with that feature. To get full value from this dock you’ll want to add the SSD card, which will up the cost significantly but also massively enrich your Mac setup with a ton more upgradable storage at hand. Should you buy the Kensington EQ Pro Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station (SD7100TS)? $449 (plus the cost of the SSD if you want to use this dock to its full potential) is a lot of money but for the level of connectivity (19 ports!) and a tidy storage M.2 enclosure it’s more affordable than its closest rivals. The optical audio port, CompactFlash slot and hot keys are nice extras rarely found on docking stations.

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14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro 24GB 1TB is $149 Off
The device is powered by the M5 Pro chip, bringing next-gen power and speed to your device for creative tasks, heavy tasks, work, gaming, and more. It also comes with faster SSD storage, and each core features a Neural Accelerator. The device is made for AI with every significant component and Apple silicon made to […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iOS 27 Brings Siri App and Potential Extensions
iOS 27 is reportedly having a feature for extensions. The revamped Siri is also widely expected to be released in iOS 27. The Siri app could enable users of the Mac, iPhone, and iPad to interact with the AI in voice and text. The extensions feature could let third-party chatbots be connected to Siri, as […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Significant Redesign for iPhone
Apple is looking to be taking steps as they are preparing for the biggest overhaul in the history of iPhones with the foldable iPhone. The rumored foldable device is going to be a book-style device with a big inner screen for playing games or watching. Past devices, such as the iPhone 4, 6, and iPhone […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Final Apple 50th Anniversary Plans Go Public
Apple’s plans to finish off the celebrations for their 50th anniversary have been revealed; the event will be for employees, held at Apple Park headquarters. Apple has celebrated its 50th anniversary all of March by hosting events and gatherings all around the world. Apple will have a special guest to perform at the area, hinting […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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4-pack AirTag Is $39 Off
The AirTag is an accessory sold by Apple that you can put on your luggage or important items so you can track them with the use of the Find My app in the event you lose the item, making the searching process less stressful and easier. The AirTag features precision finding with Ultra Wideband technology […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone 18 to Feature Smaller Dynamic Island
The base iPhone 18 next year is reportedly getting a smaller Dynamic Island that will be equipped on the iPhone 18 Pro. Smaller Dynamic Island is going to be adopted on all iPhone 18 models, with the bezels looking similar to the previous models. Apple is looking to start a split-cycle launch plan for upcoming […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Users Sent Critical Security Alerts To Update To New Version of iOS
Apple has started sending notifications to users of the iPad and iPhone who are on older versions of iPadOS and iOS, warning them of web-based attacks that are active. The alert will show as a notification that is labeled ‘Critical Software’. The company is aware of the attacks that are specifically targeting devices with outdated […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Products in Lockdown Mode Are Never Hacked, Apple Claims
Apple has declared that they have a clean record on spyware attacks against any of its devices that are in Lockdown Mode. Lockdown mode is a security feature you can opt into to protect your device, introduced by Apple back in 2022. The feature is available for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad; it significantly restricts […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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AirPods Pro 3 is $49 Off
The AirPods Pro 3 offers a way for you to track your heart rate with built-in sensors, and it allows you to track calories burnt as well. Break language barriers with Live Translation so you can communicate with other people who speak their native language. The earbuds feature the best ANC in the world, eliminating […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Releases New Immersive Video For Apple Vision Pro
Owners of the Apple Vision Pro have a new video available to watch. It is an Apple Immersive Video titled Debut at the BBC Proms, it is a concert of classical music filmed last year during the Proms Season at Royal Albert Hall, with the courtesy of BBC Arts. The video was filmed by Livewire […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple In Final Stages of 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Apple is in the closing stage of their global celebration for their 50th anniversary after hosting events in Tokyo, Mexico City, Shanghai, and Washington D.C. Sarah Herrlinger, Roberta Cordano, and Troy Kotsur held discussions on how accessible technology helps in developing creativity. Troy Kotsur is the first male actor who is deaf to receive an […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Crunchyroll Coming to Apple TV
Apple TV has acquired a streaming service for watching anime, Crunchyroll. Subscribers of the service in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada can subscribe to Crunchyroll via Apple TV. Convenient for subscribers to watch anime without needing to open a different app. The service is priced monthly at $9.99 Apple TV, and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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RAM shortages are raising console prices, but this Nintendo Switch bundle is only $220
Macworld TL;DR: Despite RAM shortages, this Nintendo Switch Bundle is still only $219.99 (reg. $299.99). RAM shortages are already affecting game consoles, which might be why it’s so hard to find an affordable Switch 2 or Steam Deck. If you want to play your favorite games on a budget, the original Nintendo Switch is actually pretty affordable right now. Instead of paying $299.99, you can get a near-mint condition Nintendo Switch for $219.99. This refurbished bundle comes with the console, the dock, left and right Joy-Con controllers in red and blue, Joy-Con grips, an HDMI cable, and a USB-C charging adapter. Games aren’t included, but because the Nintendo Switch is already an established console, there are a ton of games already out. Battery life lasts around 4.5 to 9 hours, depending on the game. The Joy-Cons can attach to the sides for handheld play, snap into the grip for a more traditional controller feel, or split so each person holds one for local multiplayer. Motion controls are built in, so games that use movement still work the way they’re supposed to. This unit is a refurbished Grade A model, listed as near mint with minimal to zero scuffing, and it’s on sale now. Get a Nintendo Switch for just $219.99. Nintendo Switch – Handheld Gaming Console Bundle (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Forget Dropbox because one cloud storage is offering 10TB for life for $350 on sale
Macworld TL;DR: Internxt is offering a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription on sale now for $349.99 (reg. $2,900). Paying a monthly subscription for cloud storage is only a good option short term. If you need a reliable place to keep your files indefinitely, a much better option is to go for a platform that gives you more space without the monthly fee. Internxt is one of these, offering a 10TB cloud storage lifetime subscription on sale for $349.99 (Reg. $2,900). Internxt is cloud storage with an emphasis on privacy. Files use end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge setup, which means Internxt can’t read what you store. Internxt also keeps its code open source on GitHub, and the service is GDPR compliant and audited through Securitum. Post-quantum encryption is included to help protect files against more powerful future attacks. This plan gives you up to 10TB of Internxt Drive for life. You can access your files through apps on Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus Android and iOS, and there’s a web app for browser access. The plan works on unlimited devices under the same account, so you can keep your files synced across a laptop, desktop, and phone without paying extra per device. Cloud storage doesn’t have to be another monthly subscription. Get an Internxt Cloud Storage 10TB Lifetime Subscription on sale for $349.99. Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB PlanSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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AI startup suing Apple over alleged arbitrary enforcement of App Store rules
An AI company that was accused of enabling sexualized chats with underage chatbot characters and undressing real people has sued Apple for wrongfully removing its apps from the App Store.Ex-Human has sued Apple over AI app removals. Image source: Ex-HumanApple is in charge of keeping the App Store safe and clear of apps that openly violate its guidelines. This practice isn't always cut and dry, but a new lawsuit may be barking up the wrong tree.According to a report in the San Francisco Business Times, Apple has been sued by Ex-Human for removing its apps from the App Store and allegedly withholding $500,000 in revenue. The company owns the apps Botify AI and Photify AI, both of which are still on the Google Play Store. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple details plan to sunset Ads Campaign Management API in 2027
Apple has released preview documentation for its new Ads Platform API, outlining a transition away from the existing Campaign Management API. Here are the details. more…

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Apple's Q2 results will be reported on April 30
Apple has confirmed it will be reporting its financials for the second quarter of 2026 on April 30, with the figures unlikely to be greatly affected by the industry memory crisis.Apple ParkAs per its fiduciary duty, Apple has to release quarterly results four times a year. For the second quarter results, that will take place at the end of April.In its notification to investors and analysts, Apple says it will be released on April 30. It will be followed by the usual conference call at 5 p.m. EDT, which will see CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh discuss the figures and answer questions about the quarter. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple sets Q2 2026 earnings release for April 30
Apple will announce the results of its fiscal second quarter of 2026 on Thursday, April 30. Here’s what to expect. more…

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Tilta Khronos iPhone 17 Pro Max photography kit review: keeping the future-proofed promise
If you're an avid iPhone photographer or videographer, you know that the right gear can transform a shot. Tilta Khronos is the answer for long-term use, even across iPhone generations.Tilta Khronos iPhone 17 Pro Max photography kit reviewI previously reviewed the Tilta Khronos iPhone camera system while connected to an iPhone 16 Pro Max. It was a fascinating system with a price aimed at pros, but one problem stood out — future proofing.I'll say it here at the top so I'm not beating around the bush too much. Tilta Khronos has solved the future-proofing problems presented when buying expensive iPhone camera gear. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Price drop: Learn something new every day with Nibble app (88% off)
Turn 10 minutes a day into real learning with this Nibble app deal. You get bite-size lessons, audio, games and even AI chats with legends. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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You can buy a custom iPhone that has a fragment of Steve Jobs’ iconic turtleneck
Smartphone customization studio Caviar has announced a custom version of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max that features a small piece of a turtleneck Steve Jobs actually wore. Here are the details. more…

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Developers that won the 2026 WWDC invite lottery are being notified
If you've applied to attend WWDC 2026, now is a great time to check your email, as Apple has started notifying those invited to experience the event in person.Apple has begun emailing those selected to attend WWDC 2026 in person.Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is an annual event held in June at Apple Park in California. This is when the iPhone maker previews new versions of its major operating systems, such as iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.Swift Student Challenge winners, members of the press, and a few lucky developers will get to experience the event in person. Those invited have already taken to social media to express their excitement and gratitude. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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‘Starkiller’ Phishing Service Proxies Real Login Pages, MFA
Most phishing websites are little more than static copies of login pages for popular online destinations, and they are often quickly taken down by anti-abuse activists and security firms. But a stealthy new phishing-as-a-service offering lets customers sidestep both of these pitfalls: It uses cleverly disguised links to load the target brand's real website, and then acts as a relay between the target and the legitimate site -- forwarding the victim's username, password and multi-factor authentication (MFA) code to the legitimate site and returning its responses.

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Unpacking the New “Matryoshka” ClickFix Variant: Typosquatting Campaign Delivers macOS Stealer
Executive Summary Intego Antivirus Labs is tracking an evolution of the “ClickFix” social engineering campaign targeting macOS users. Dubbed Matryoshka due to its nested obfuscation layers, this variant uses a fake installation/fix flow to trick victims into executing a malicious Terminal command. While the ClickFix tactic is not new, this campaign introduces stronger evasion techniques […] The post appeared first on The Mac Security Blog.

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Kimwolf Botnet Swamps Anonymity Network I2P
For the past week, the massive "Internet of Things" (IoT) botnet known as Kimwolf has been disrupting the The Invisible Internet Project (I2P), a decentralized, encrypted communications network designed to anonymize and secure online communications. I2P users started reporting disruptions in the network around the same time the Kimwolf botmasters began relying on it to evade takedown attempts against the botnet's control servers.

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Patch Tuesday, February 2026 Edition
Microsoft today released updates to fix more than 50 security holes in its Windows operating systems and other software, including patches for a whopping six "zero-day" vulnerabilities that attackers are already exploiting in the wild.

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Please Don’t Feed the Scattered Lapsus ShinyHunters
A prolific data ransom gang that calls itself Scattered Lapsus ShinyHunters (SLSH) has a distinctive playbook when it seeks to extort payment from victim firms: Harassing, threatening and even swatting executives and their families, all while notifying journalists and regulators… Read More »

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Who Operates the Badbox 2.0 Botnet?
The cybercriminals in control of Kimwolf -- a disruptive botnet that has infected more than 2 million devices -- recently shared a screenshot indicating they'd compromised the control panel for Badbox 2.0, a vast China-based botnet powered by malicious software that comes pre-installed on many Android TV streaming boxes. Both the FBI and Google say they are hunting for the people behind Badbox 2.0, and thanks to bragging by the Kimwolf botmasters we may now have a much clearer idea about that.

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Kimwolf Botnet Lurking in Corporate, Govt. Networks
A new Internet-of-Things botnet called Kimwolf has spread to more than 2 million devices, forcing infected systems to participate in massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and to relay other malicious and abusive Internet traffic. Kimwolf's ability to scan the local networks of compromised systems for other IoT devices to infect makes it a sobering threat to organizations, and new research reveals Kimwolf is surprisingly prevalent in government and corporate networks.

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Patch Tuesday, January 2026 Edition
Microsoft today issued patches to plug at least 113 security holes in its various Windows operating systems and supported software. Eight of the vulnerabilities earned Microsoft's most-dire "critical" rating, and the company warns that attackers are already exploiting one of the bugs fixed today.

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Who Benefited from the Aisuru and Kimwolf Botnets?
Our first story of 2026 revealed how a destructive new botnet called Kimwolf rapidly grew to infect more than two million devices by mass-compromising a vast number of unofficial Android TV streaming boxes. Today, we'll dig through digital clues left behind by the hackers, network operators, and cybercrime services that appear to have benefitted from Kimwolf's spread.

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Updated iPad Price Trackers
We've updated our Apple award-winning iPad Price Trackers with the latest information on 11th-generation A16 iPads as well as M4-powered 11" & 13" iPad Airs and M5-powered iPad Pros. We track prices from 20+ Apple retailers, including Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H, and many more: - iPads - iPad minis - iPad Airs - iPad Pros You can also find the best price on an iPad accessory: - Apple Pencils - iPad Keyboards Our trackers are updated continuously with the very latest prices.

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24-inch M4 iMacs on sale for up to $200 off Apple’s MSRP at Amazon
Amazon has Apple's 24-inch M4 iMacs on sale this week for $107-$200 off MSRP, starting at $1192, each including free shipping: - 24-inch M4 iMac (8-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD): $1192, $107 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (10-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD): $1324.30, $175 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (10-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1571.94, $128 off MSRP - 24-inch M4 iMac (8-Core CPU, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD): $1699, $200 off MSRP Amazon's prices are the lowest available for one of these new iMacs. Note that stock can vary. Price posted above is the lowest price available for each standard configuration, regardless of color. For the latest prices and deals, see our iMac Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Apple Watch SE 3 models on sale for $30 off MSRP, prices start at $219
Amazon has Apple Watch SE 3 models on sale for $30 off MSRP, shipping included: - 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $219, $30 off MSRP - 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $249, $30 off MSRP - 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS + 5G: $249, $30 off MSRP - 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS + 5G: $299, $30 off MSRP These are the lowest sale prices currently available for Apple Watch SE 3 models. For the latest prices & deals, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Amazon is offering a $100 discount on Apple Watch Series 11 models
Amazon is offering a $100 discount on new Apple Watch Series 11 models right now. Shipping is free: - 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $299, save $100 - 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS: $329, save $100 - 42mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + 5G: $399, save $100 - 46mm Apple Watch Series 11 GPS + 5G: $429, save $100 These are the lowest prices available for Apple Watch Series 11 models. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Switch to Metro by T-Mobile and get a free iPhone 16e or $250 off the iPhone 17e
New! Switch to Metro by T-Mobile, and choose a free Apple iPhone 16e or get $250 off an iPhone 17e with service. The fine print: "Your iPhone 17e is $349.99 via instant discount at checkout plus any applicable sales tax. You’ll need to bring your number & pay for the first month of your plan (eligible plans start at $55 your first month & $50 after with AutoPay). Qualifying port-in required. This offer isn’t available if you’re currently with T-Mobile or have been with Metro in the past 180 days. You can get this deal on up to 2 lines." For the iPhone 16e: "Your iPhone 16e is $99.99 via instant discount at checkout plus any applicable sales tax and ON US via $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard after your 3rd month of service. You’ll need to pay for the first month of your plan (eligible plans start at $55 your first month & $50 with AutoPay). After your third month of service with your new line, you’ll need to properly complete a form for your virtual prepaid Mastercard, which you can use online or in stores; no cash access & expires in 6 months." For the latest prices and deals, see our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Switch to Visible and get a free iPhone 17e
Purchase an iPhone 17e (256GB) on the Visible+ plan on Verizon's low-cost carrier Visible, and they’ll give you $25/mo in service credits for 24 months. That’s $600 in savings, making the iPhone 17e itself free. Free overnight delivery is available on all new phones. The fine print: "New members, save up to $600 via monthly service credits with the purchase of Apple iPhone 17e. The $45/mo Visible+ Pro plan is required. 1. Join Visible on a new line of service 2. Purchase an eligible device on device payment or at full retail price 3. Select the monthly Visible+ Pro plan 4. Pay the applicable sales tax on the pre-credit price and activate your service within 30 days" Visible uses Verizon's 5G nationwide network and offers plans with unlimited data for $35 per month. For the latest prices and deals, see our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Get AirPods Pro 3 for only $199 right now, $50 off Apple’s MSRP
Amazon has Apple AirPods Pro 3 on sale for $50 off MSRP, including free shipping: - AirPods Pro 3: $199, $50 off Their price is the lowest currently available for AirPods Pro 3. Keep an eye on our AirPods Price Tracker for the latest prices and deals, updated daily.

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Clearance 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro on sale for $700 off original MSRP
B&H Photo is offering a $700 discount on the Clearance, Space Black, 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (48GB/1TB) right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Black): $3199, $700 off MSRP Their price is the lowest available for this configuration. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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13-inch M5 iPad Pros on sale for up to $200 off Apple’s MSRP
Amazon has Apple's 13-inch M5 WiFi iPad Pros on stock today and on sale for $100-$200 off MSRP. Shipping is free. These are the lowest 13" iPad Pro prices currently available: - 13" 256GB M5 iPad Pro: $1199 $100 off MSRP - 13" 512GB M5 iPad Pro: $1397 $102 off MSRP - 13" 1TB M5 iPad Pro: $1749 $150 off MSRP - 13" 2TB M5 iPad Pro: $2099 $200 off MSRP For the latest prices and sales, see our iPad Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Apple’s new 27-inch 5K Studio Display in stock and on sale for $1499, $100 off MSRP
Amazon has the new 27" Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) in stock and on sale for $1499, $100 off MSRP. Shipping is free: - 2026 Studio Display (Tilt Adjustable): $1499 $100 off MSRP Their price is the lowest available for this Studio Display among the retailers we track. For the latest prices and sales, see our Studio Display Price Tracker, updated daily.

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iPads are on sale starting at $299, $50 off Apple’s MSRP
Amazon has Apple's 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale again for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: - 11" 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP - 11" 11th-generation 256GB WiFi iPads: $399 $50 off MSRP - 11" 11th-generation 512GB WiFi iPads: $599 $50 off MSRP Amazon's prices are the lowest iPads prices currently available for 11th-generation models. For the latest prices & deals, keep an eye on our iPad Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Amazon offering early $50 discount on select 15-inch M5 MacBook Airs
Amazon is offering an early $50 discount on select 15" M5 MacBook Airs, each with free shipping. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party. Note that the discount may only apply to specific colors and specifications, see their site for more details. For the latest sales & prices see our 15" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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