Tim Cook slammed for attending 'Melania' screening on night of Alex Pretti killing
Apple CEO Tim Cook attended a private White House screening of a documentary about Melania Trump, and the timing of the event has seen him facing a vitriolic backlash from critics and customers.Melania Trump at the White House screening of her film — image credit: Melania TrumpIt's been the cost of doing business during the Trump Administration — Tim Cook has personally contributed to the new White House ballroom, for instance. He's also presented the President with a gold trophy, ostensibly awarded for Trump inspiring more US investment when in actuality it was business as usual for Apple.So Tim Cook being included in the guest list of the latest Trump event, or even really being required to attend, should not be a surprise. That the event was the screening of what's said to be a sycophantic documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, should even make people sympathetic to Cook. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Contrasting Apple standing up to FBI with Microsoft BitLocker keys isn’t fair
Confirmation that Microsoft handed over BitLocker keys to the FBI for three Windows laptops is being contrasted with Apple standing up to the same agency back in 2015. However, the comparison isn’t actually fair, and there is a simple way for Windows users to ensure their encrypted data remains secure … more…

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Apple’s obsession with ads is destroying the iPhone
Macworld Disappointing news for iPhone and iPad owners last week, when it emerged that from the start of March, Apple will run more ads in App Store search queries. You may feel that searching for “into the breach” should surface the game “Into the Breach” rather than the “Hero Wars: Alliance” RPG, but Apple does not appear to agree. Now, you might argue that I’m stretching the term “news” a little, since we’ve had ads in App Store search since 2016, and even this latest expansion of the program, creating multiple paid slots per query, was first floated last month. But you would be wrong, because we just learned two new nuggets of knowledge: the timeframe, and the markets which will get the extra ads first (the U.K., followed by Japan, followed by everyone else). So there. In any case, the topic is one that lends itself to small updates rather than blockbuster announcements, because Apple’s love affair with in-software advertising is one long process of gradual expansion. The thin end of the wedge is slowly replaced by the thick end of the degraded user experience. At first, it was a single ad at the top of each search query. Then those ads spread to other parts of the App Store. And Apple News. And Stocks. And iMovie. And, in another 2026 development, Apple Maps. The company is constantly pushing for more intrusive advertising. When users push back hard enough (such as ads for gambling apps appearing in the “You Might Also Like” section), Apple generally takes a step back; when they don’t, Apple takes another step forward. And this is the latest. It’s easy to see why Apple would want to add ever more ad slots to its software platforms: money. You don’t get to a market cap of $4 trillion without having an eye for revenue opportunities. But it’s not free money. It comes at the cost of user trust. Apple’s whole thing is that it’s different from other tech companies. It makes the hardware and the software. The hardware is there to bring in the revenue, and the software is there to make the hardware as appealing as possible. This is supposed to be the company you go to if you’re sick of having your data harvested, of being a product rather than a customer. Apple fans pay a premium upfront, and in return, they get to inhabit a safe space: the famous walled garden. And they’re entitled to expect Apple to remove weeds and throw out any traveling salesmen. Why, a customer might reasonably ask, am I seeing ads? Was the $999 I spent on my iPhone not enough for you? And if you’re going to start doing the same things as Google, what’s stopping me from saving money and buying an Android phone? This might sound like a small annoyance: the equivalent of someone complaining about ads on the cheaper tiers of their streaming service of choice. (There are promotional slots, inevitably, before shows on Apple TV, as well as widespread product placement.) But this runs a lot deeper. Search ads specifically are poison to a healthy ecosystem, because they exist entirely to direct consumers away from the product they asked for and towards the product the platform owner was paid to recommend. Ads are labeled, of course, but if nobody clicked them, nobody would pay for them. They’re directing traffic. They’re shaping the market. They’re making it more likely that an Apple Maps user will walk past the hidden gem gastropub that desperately needs the business and into the subpar chain restaurant that paid for an ad. So Apple needs to think about the app ecosystem it wants to run. Does it want to reward innovation, encourage small developers to thrive, help customers to navigate millions of apps and find the one that’s best for them? Or does it want to favor bigger developers and help copycats to mislead consumers into downloading the wrong app? I’d like to think it’s the former. But every expansion to its in-software advertising business makes me doubt it more. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Oh, great, exclaims the Macalope. Now the rest of Apple is also doomed because of AI. Mahmoud Itani lists 5 reasons why the Magic Keyboard is the most underrated iPad accessory. Exclusive: Inside Enchanté, Apple’s AI chatbot for employee productivity. Utah senator has nothing better to do than officially troll iPhone users. John Brandon is a Mac gamer. These 8 accessories leveled up his rig, big-time. Here are 7 surprising Apple Photos tools to elevate your iPhone photography game. Podcast of the week The MacBook Pro is celebrating its 20th anniversary. So on the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast, we’re taking a look at the MacBook lineup and its beginnings, its current state, and its future. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Sennheiser HDB 630: aptX adaptive headphones that work with Apple. ESR CryoBoost Foldable 3-in-1: Fast Qi2 charging with active cooling. OWC StudioStack: More Mac storage. Faster speeds. Way less money. The rumor mill Siri will reportedly evolve into a full-fledged chatbot this fall. Apple’s next wearable could be an AI pin. Apple Car’s existence confirmed… by Airbnb. Analyst shares expected tech specs for the iPhone Fold. While the iPhone 18 is expected to get a much brighter screen. Video of the week @macworld.com iPhone 18 Pro Face ID is the center after all #apple #iphone #leak ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld It’s time for a little rumor update for all you iPhone enjoyers. Enjoy all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems Still on iOS 18? Here’s why it’s finally time to upgrade to iOS 26. Hackers threaten to release ‘exact’ details of unreleased Apple products. These iPhone AI apps expose your data, and they’re all over the App Store. Google Chrome for iOS tests Safari data import feature at long last. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.

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Upgrade everything you do with an iPad Pro M4 for $400 off
Macworld TL;DR: Get a near-mint iPad Pro 13″ with Apple’s M4 chip for $899.20, save $400, and enjoy pro-level performance while supplies last. This is the kind of Apple deal that doesn’t hang around for long. The iPad Pro 13-inch powered by Apple’s M4 chip—the same tablet redefining what “portable” performance means—is available in near-mint condition for just $899.20, a full $400 off its MSRP. Inside, the M4 chip delivers desktop-class speed that handles everything from heavy multitasking to creative workflows like video editing, illustration, and AR. Pair that power with the Ultra Retina XDR display, ProMotion refresh rates, and jaw-dropping color accuracy, and you’ve got a screen that’s just as impressive for spreadsheets as it is for streaming. Despite all that power, the iPad Pro stays ultra-thin and lightweight, ideal for working on the go, sketching ideas anywhere, or replacing a laptop altogether. You also get a 12MP advanced camera system, studio-quality audio with four speakers, and up to 10 hours of battery life to keep things moving all day. This unit arrives in Grade A, near-mint condition, meaning little to no visible wear—just premium Apple hardware at a much friendlier price. Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard aren’t included, but the performance absolutely is. Get this like-new Apple iPad Pro 13″ with M4 chip for just $899.20 (MSRP $1,299) for a limited time. Apple iPad Pro 13″ (2024) M4 256GB WI-Fi Space Black (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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This $999 MacBook Air is $200 right now
Macworld TL;DR: Get a MacBook Air on sale for $199.97 (reg. $999). Older MacBooks make great everyday computers, whether you’re at school or need something to take your work on the road. This MacBook Air refurb has a few years on it, but it has an A/B rating, which means it works great but may have some minor superficial signs of wear. That’s a good thing because it drops the price down to $199.97 (from $999). And shipping is free. This 13.3-inch MacBook Air has a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. That hardware is suitable for web browsing, document work, email, video streaming, and other everyday tasks. It’s not going to be a gaming computer, but it works well for the basics. The 1440×900 display is not current generation, but it is sharp enough for schoolwork and casual use, and the SSD helps the system boot and launch apps quickly. Connectivity includes Wi Fi for home or campus networks and Bluetooth for headphones, mice, keyboards, or file sharing with compatible devices. The built-in battery is rated for up to 12 hours, so light to moderate use can often last most of a day away from an outlet. This unit is refurbished with a Grade A/B rating, which means it may have light scuffs or small marks that do not affect performance. It ships with a MagSafe wall charger and a third-party 90-day parts and labor warranty. For a limited time, you can get a MacBook Air on sale for $199.97. Apple MacBook Air (2017) 13″ i5 1.8GHz 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple could move past its M5 chip faster than you think
Apple's M5 chip might have a short shelf life, with the M6 chip reportedly ready to hit shelves rather soon. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple’s iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is 20% off for the first time ever
Macworld If Apple’s super-thin iPhone Air has one drawback, it’s the battery life. Apple understands this, which is why it makes a MagSafe battery pack that fits perfectly under the iPhone Air’s camera bump. Normally $99, it’s on sale for 20 percent off at Amazon right now, the first time we’ve ever seen it this low. Like the phone itself, the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery ​​​​​​​ is super slim and stylish, and won’t add too much bulk to the back of the phone. It’s designed to slip into your pocket with ease and has enough power to add up to 65 percent of your phone’s battery life, giving you those extra hours you absolutely need before you get to your regular charger. Just attach it, forget about it, and you’ll get through a full day without needing to think about a charger. If you wait till you need a charge, it delivers 12W of fast wireless charging, so it won’t take long before your phone is back to 100 percent. And sure, you may find similar power banks for less out there, but there’s none that will fit as well as this one does on your iPhone Air. So take advantage of this rare 20 percent discount for the Apple MagSafe power bank for the iPhone Air before it vanishes into thin air. Buy now at Amazon

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Apple's M5 iPad Pro drops to $899, plus save $600 on blowout M4 spec
Month-end iPad deals are in effect now, with Apple's latest M5 iPad Pro models falling to as low as $899 — and a blowout M4 tablet $600 off.Save up to $600 on iPad Pros with month-end savings.Matching the lowest price seen on the M5 iPad Pro line, the 11-inch Wi-Fi model with 256GB of storage is marked down to $899 at Amazon, a $100 discount off retail.Buy M5 iPad Pro for $899 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro 16GB RAM 512GB is $150 Off
Amazon has the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage marked $150 off. Powered by the next-gen M5 chip, the premium laptop is made for speed and power, allowing you to breeze through your workload, edit, code, and play games with max graphics settings. The GPU of the MacBook features a Neural […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Introducing High-End Version Of AirPods Pro 3 in 2026
A new secondary high-end AirPods Pro 3 is being prepared to debut by Apple this year. In 2025, Ming-Chi Kuo, a supply chain analyst, stated that the company will introduce a new version of the AirPods Pro 3 this year, which is not usual for Apple because the company usually has a 3-year interval before […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New Firmware for the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air and iPad Pro Models Rolled Out
The Magic Keyboard made for the iPad Pro and iPad Air have received a new firmware update from Apple. The M3 iPad Air had firmware version 0350.0135.0303, now 0400.0140.0303, while the M4 and M5 iPad Pro models had 0680.0220.0301, which is now 0750.0220.0304. The firmware is for both Magic Keyboard 11 and 13-inch variants that […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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9to5Mac Overtime 056: Powered by Google Gemini
Fernando and Jeff discuss the future of Siri and Apple Intelligence after learning it will be powered by Google Gemini models. 9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-first podcast exploring fun and interesting observations in the Apple ecosystem, featuring 9to5Mac’s Fernando Silva & Jeff Benjamin. Subscribe to Overtime via Apple Podcasts and our YouTube channel for more. more…

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Apple Redirecting OLED Display Orders to Samsung as BOE Has Trouble Keeping Up
BOE, the Chinese supplier of Apple, is having a hard time keeping up with OLED display panel production for the iPhone. Millions of orders are now being redirected to Samsung Display, The Elec reports. BOE has not been able to fix manufacturing problems that surfaced back in November and December, with issues in the specific […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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The 11-inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi is $99 Off
Amazon has the 11-inch M5 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi support marked $99 off. The device features an Ultra Retina XDR Display that comes with ProMotion, precise contrast, P3 wide color, True Tone, and extreme brightness, along with nano-texture display glass, making it today’s most advanced display technology. It is powered by the next-generation M5 chip, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New Feature Allows the Import of Data from Safari to Chrome
iOS Chrome will add an option for users on the iPhone to import Safari data into the mobile browser by Google. As of now, Chrome 145 is in beta. User will be guided on navigating the import process for their passwords, browsing history, and bookmarks from Safari. The process needs users to manually export their […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone 18 Pro to Have Under-Screen Face ID
Many Apple rumors agree that the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro models will have Face ID found under the screen. However, there are also speculations that clash with each other regarding the Dynamic Island and the impact of Face ID on this feature. ShrimpApplePro, an account on X, made a claim that […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Threads Has More Mobile Users On Their Platform, Beating X
Threads by Meta has now surpassed X, its rival, in global daily usage. It is reported that Threads has amassed an active daily user count of 141.5 million on Android and iOS, while X has 125 million active users. The data shows that the platform crossed in front of X on mobile devices around October […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iOS 26 adoption rate isn’t as lousy as suspected, but it’s still not great
iOS 26 adoption is higher than thought earlier. Find out how Apple's tracking change completely threw off the count. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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The 13-inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi is $100 Off
Amazon has the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi marked $100 off. The device is powered by the next-generation M5 chip, bringing in speed, power, and fluidity so you can handle heavy workloads like editing, coding, multitasking, and run graphics-heavy games without any problems. The device features a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display, the most […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Fined $150,000 After Multiple Violations of an Agreement in New Jersey
Apple reached an agreement with New Jersey to follow the visible pricing rules of the state in 2017. Last year, a number of violations were discovered by inspectors as seen at Apple Retail Stores in New Jersey, which prompted Apple to redraft its practices for pricing in-store. The Office of the Attorney General in the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Hardware Makes an Appearance at the VCARB and Red Bull Formula 1 Launch Broadcast
VCARB and Red Bull Racing have unveiled their F1 cars for the 2026 season with new regulations and a new livery. The premiere was streamed on the Red Bull platform live. This is the start of a new era for Red Bull Ford Powertrains. A label ‘Shot on iPhone’ appeared during the broadcast of the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple Upgrading 5 Devices to OLED Displays
Apple is planning to upgrade the iMac, iPad Air, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Mini with an OLED display sometime this year until 2028. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reported in the past that the MacBook Pro and iPad Mini will be getting an OLED display as early as 2026, while the MacBook Air may […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Will Apple be raising its memory prices with upcoming Mac releases?
Across the computing industry, computer memory (both in the form of RAM and flash storage) has only been getting more and more expensive – largely due to supply shortages caused by AI datacenter buildout. Memory prices have up to quadrupled in recent months, and it’s likely going to worsen. That leaves the question: will Apple be adjusting its own memory prices? more…

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Setapp denied Launchpad replacement for not using AI. This is not good.
Artificial Intelligence is big business, and companies are looking for the next big app to use it. However, Mac app subscription service Setapp has demonstrated that the pursuit of AI comes at the cost of ignoring non-AI apps.Setapp isn't adding Launchpad replacement AppHub to its roster anytime soonThe artificial intelligence gold rush has led to a situation where developers are incentivized to add AI to their apps. Sometimes, it's just for the sake of saying there's AI in it at all.This isn't a sudden change, as the situation has grown over time in line with AI technology itself. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Today in Apple history: Sun Microsystems almost buys Apple
On January 25, 1996, rumors circulated that Sun Microsystems was in talks to acquire the struggling Apple, then worth just $3.89 billion. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Stop juggling AI apps: 1minAI puts ChatGPT and more in one place
Get an AI tool that brings top AI models like ChatGPT, Mistral AI and more together in one interface. Enter 1minAI, the all-in-one AI tool. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Report: Apple planning to ‘deeply’ integrate Gemini-backed Siri into multiple core apps
Since the launch of Apple Intelligence over a year ago, Apple has added very few new AI features to its apps. Some recent additions are Apple Music’s AutoMix and Apple Watch’s Workout Buddy. However, that is set to change this year. more…

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Gemini-powered Siri is almost ready for prime time
Apple may unveil its much smarter Siri, built on Gemini-powered Apple Foundation Models, at a press event in late February. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple has a lot in store for the Mac lineup this year, here’s what’s coming
Apple reportedly has an exciting plan for the Mac lineup for 2026. That includes new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro refreshes, a massive MacBook Pro redesign, new Mac desktops, an all new budget MacBook offering, as well as a second generation Studio Display. We’ll be delving into what’s expected for all of these new Mac products right here. more…

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Apple's unusual OS 27 code name shift could reflect AI strategy changes, or nothing at all
While WWDC 2026 is months away, more information is leaking about iOS 27 and the other releases. A strange internal change has occurred — OS 26 codenames have shifted mid-development.Apple Intelligence will run Apple Foundation Models trained with GeminiIt is no secret that technology firms love their internal codenames, which almost never hold any real connection to the final product they represent. That's especially been true of Apple, but they tend to stay the same for each OS during development.In one small section of the most recent Power On Newsletter from Mark Gurman, he mentions a strange shift in internal naming for iOS 27 and macOS 27. Their code names were Buttercup and Honeycrisp respectively previously, but now they are Rave and Fizz. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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