New Features For Gemini Coming to Google TV
At this year’s CES, new features for Gemini were announced by Google for Google TV, which is integrated into select set-top boxes and TV sets. At first, it may not be relevant for users of Apple devices, but looking closer, it gives us a peek into AI and what it can do. Google TV Gemini […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Deals: 256GB iPhone 16 Pro $320 off, 1TB M5 MacBook Pro $200 off, Trail Loops up to 25% off, more
Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now ready to roll down below. We have a chance to score Apple’s most affordable iPhone 16 Pro models at up to $320 off alongside its 16GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro at nearly $200 off. Moving over to the wearable side of things, you will find Apple Watch Series 11 at up to $100 off right now alongside some solid price drops on a series of official bands too – the latest black and blue Trail Loops, the black and natural Milanese Loops, and this ongoing all-time low on the Anchor Blue Apple Watch Sport Loop. Everything else awaits below.  more…

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Apple asked to pull X and Grok apps over ‘sickening content generation’
Three U.S. Senators have asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to temporarily remove X and Grok from the App Store due to “sickening content generation” in recent days. more…

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Beyond the pickle: 9 emojis coming to iPhone in 2026
Get ready for new emoji in late 2026. Explore the fresh additions like the pickle emoji and what it brings to messaging. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS 26 is a massive flop with iPhone users, and you can probably guess why
Macworld Last year was a significant one for Apple’s operating systems. Across the board, from the iPhone and iPad to the Mac and Vision Pro, platforms were standardized in both version number and look. But not everyone was impressed with the new universal Liquid Glass design language, often referred to by an unkind rhyming epithet. What could in the summer and fall have been dismissed as a subjective response, the complaints of a vocal minority, can now be quantified. And the latest adoption data indicates that at least one of the late-2025 operating systems has been vastly less popular with customers than its equivalent the year before. In short, hardly anyone is running iOS 26. According to StatCounter’s data for January 2026, just 18.1 percent of identified iPhone users are running some version of iOS 26. More than four times as many are still using the various versions of iOS 18. Here’s how the numbers stack up by version: iOS 18.7: 33.81% iOS 18.6: 25.2% iOS 26.1: 10.57% iOS 18.5: 5.56% iOS 26.2: 4.62% iOS 16.7: 2.23% iOS 15.8: 1.76% Other: 16.24% January 2026. Source: StatCounter (Note that the “Other” segment may include 26.0 and other point updates of iOS 26, although none will individually score more than iOS 15.8’s 1.76 percent. For simplicity and in the absence of more detail, I’ve calculated the total for iOS 26 and 18 as a percentage of users for whom a version is identified, and excluding the Other segment.) For comparison with the same moment in iOS 18’s release schedule, I dug up StatCounter’s data for January 1-9, 2025. And the difference is stark: iOS 18.1: 46.82% iOS 18.2: 12.88% iOS 17.6: 9.18% iOS 16.7: 3.47% iOS 18.0: 3.46% iOS 17.5: 3.26% iOS 15.8: 2.83% Other: 18.11% January 1-9, 2025. Source: StatCounter Based on these figures, at exactly the same time of year, the latest version of iOS had achieved a 77.1 percent adoption rate. (I have iOS 18 at 77.1 percent of identified users, and iOS 17 at 15.2 percent.) This clearly shows how disappointing it is for iOS 26 to be stuck at less than 20 percent adoption. So the adoption numbers are heavily down on previous years. But this might not seem like much of an issue for Apple. After all, iOS updates are free. Even if iOS 26 is a flop, that won’t reduce the company’s revenue by one cent. (Though it could, conceivably, prevent someone from upgrading or buying a new iPhone, but that’s harder to quantify.) But regardless of the financial factor, Apple really cares about OS adoption. One aspect is security: if a user has the latest version of iOS, they also have all the latest patches. Another, which is particularly relevant in this case, is gaining the marketing benefits of iPhones in the wild, being seen with the latest look and the latest features. This is why Apple used to be so resistant to user customization: it prefers to pick what it considers to be the optimal interface, and for that to be the public face of the iPhone. Unfortunately, the latest look seems likely to be at least part of the reason why iPhone users aren’t rushing to update. Just bear in mind that iOS 26 is about more than Liquid Glass, and that the worst aesthetic excesses can be toned down by opening the Settings app and going to Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass.

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Breakthrough device could blaze path for Apple Watch blood glucose tracking
The new PreEvnt Isaac blood glucose device could point a way forward for Apple Watch and other wearables in tracking blood sugar. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS 26 gave screenshots a hidden power I’ve started using a lot
iOS 26 brings visual intelligence to screenshots, enabling several new features. But there’s one I only recently discovered that solves the common problem of plain text URLs you can’t easily tap to open. more…

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Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 2025 compensation: $74.3 million
Apple CEO Tim Cook's total compensation for fiscal 2025 amounted to approximately $74.3 million, a minor decrease from $74.6 million in 2024… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Mosyle identifies one of the first known AI-assisted Mac malware threats
Mosyle, a popular Apple device management and security firm, has exclusively shared details with 9to5Mac on a previously unknown macOS malware campaign. While crypto miners on macOS aren’t anything new, the discovery appears to be the first Mac malware sample uncovered in the wild that contains code from generative AI models—officially confirming what was inevitable. At the time of discovery, Mosyle’s security research team says the threat was undetected by all major antivirus engines. This comes nearly a year after Moonlock Lab warned about chatter on dark web forums indicating how large language models were being used to write malware targeting macOS. more…

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∞ The Dalrymple Report: Vision Pro, Doorbells and doorlocks, Laptop evolutions
If you have a Vision Pro, Apple put you courtside at an LA Lakers game this week, which must have been quite an experience. It's time for CES and this year there are a lot of doorbells and doorlocks. Dave and I talk about CES and dig into some specific product categories. This week Dave talks about some laptop trends that are not Apple. Follow this podcast Brought to you by: Squarespace: Check out squarespace.com/DALRYMPLE for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: DALRYMPLE to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Show Notes: Los Angeles Lakers games on Spectrum Front Row in Apple Immersive tip off January 9 This tiny SSD adds up to 8TB of storage and is trackable with Apple Find My Anker debuts tiny new 45W iPhone Nano charger with Smart Display, 180-degree foldable prong Laptop evolutions, NOT from Apple Lenovo Legion concept has an expanding, “rollable” display Shows and movies we're watching Angela Black, MHz Fred Armisen: stand up for drummers, Netflix Wake Up Dead Man

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Don't believe all the rumors you hear about Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone
A new leak is throwing some cold water about how the Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone won't be as revolutionary as previous rumors have suggested.Apple's iPhone XRumors have suggested that Apple will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone's release with another iPhone X moment. As most of you reading this are aware, the iPhone X ushered in a new iPhone design that Apple has mostly stuck to for the better part of a decade.To do that, previous rumors suggested that Apple will release an iPhone with zero bezels, creating a new, futuristic design. But a new leak claims Apple will create that effect by using curved glass, avoiding the pitfalls that can come from using a curved OLED panel. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone Air 2 could get two of the most requested feature upgrades
Apple may have fixes coming for iPhone Air 2 that address two major concerns with the first model: cameras and battery life. Here are the details. more…

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Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone on this day in 2007
On January 9, 2007, in the shadow of the CES, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone. You know that it was an extraordinary and flawless demo from the outside, but what you don't remember is everything else that was launched — nor how part of the keynote went wrong.Steve Jobs with the original iPhoneContext is everything. Just before the iPhone launch, on Sunday, January 7, 2007, Bill Gates gave the keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.Hammering home Microsoft's then buzz phrase of the 'Digital Decade,' he talked about how great hardware wasn't enough, that we needed connected experiences. "Where people are being productive, doing new creative things, where they're mobile... that is the key element that is missing." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone
On January 9, 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs gave the world its first look at a radical new device during the first iPhone demo at Macworld. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Emoji 18.0: Squinting Face, Pickle, Lighthouse, and more headed to future Apple OS updates
The Unicode Consortium has released a draft list of proposed emoji for Emoji 18.0, paving the way for fresh expressive options on iPhones… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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CES 2026, Apple Card's bank shift and more, on the AppleInsider Podcast
It's the week of the annual CES, but not as we've known it before. Plus Apple Card is moving banks, and you really should not let ChatGPT into your Apple Health data, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.CES may be waning, but there are highlights for Apple usersBack in 1992, Apple's then CEO John Sculley announced the Newton at CES. Apple didn't come back again until 2020, and even then it wasn't exhibiting.For more than three decades, then, the Consumer Electronics Show has thrived without Apple. And it's thrived with many companies making accessories for Apple. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s most watched TV show just barely makes an appearance on the Nielsen streaming chart
In December, without providing specific viewing figures of course, Apple said that Pluribus had become the most watched TV show in the history of the Apple TV streaming service. The show has now also appeared in industry analytics firm Nielsen’s US streaming report. For the week commencing December 8, Pluribus came in at number 9 out of the top 10 streaming originals … more…

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Inside Preview in iOS 26 – how to edit PDFs, sign documents, and scan files
Preview in iOS 26 turns your iPhone into a quick workspace when a document needs attention. Here's how to edit your PDFs with the app.How to use Preview on iOS 26The new Preview app fixes a long-standing gap on the iPhone. Document tools scattered across Files, Mail, and third-party apps never felt consistent or easy to manage. Preview brings everything together, which makes common tasks feel easier to handle.The app supports PDFs, images, and scans without pushing you through separate workflows. You can correct small issues on a page, add a signature, or clean up a document before sending it back. Many routine jobs finally feel manageable on a smaller screen. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone Air 2 could get thinner & brighter screen because of iPhone Fold tech
A new report claims that thin display technology for the iPhone Fold may also be used for the single screen in an iPhone Air 2 in 2027.The current iPhone AirThe first iPhone Air in 2025 may have been a hint at the iPhone fold, as that forthcoming model will need displays that are as thin. But a new report claims that the use of display technology may also go the other way, with the iPhone Fold's screen being used to improve the iPhone Air.Specifically, The Elec claims that Apple is considering the use of Color Filter on Encap (CoE) technology. It's previously been reported to be considering this for the 20th anniversary iPhone. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Pickle, lighthouse, and meteor among 19 new emoji previewed for 2026
We're expecting the pickle to be the stand-out favorite when the new crop of 19 emoji arrive on the iPhone.A selection of the new emoji coming in 2026 - Image: Emojipedia/AppleInsiderThe new emoji, published by the Unicode Consortium and shared by Emojipedia, are currently only in draft, so they won't be made official for a while yet. It's likely the draft list will be finalized in September 2026, with Apple adding the emoji in a future software update.Among the 19 emoji are a green pickle that is sure to prove popular, as well as a meteor burning up as it breaks through the atmosphere. Dinosaurs the world over will want to give that one a wide berth. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Here are the new emoji likely coming to iPhone with iOS 27
Apple generally adds new emojis to the iPhone with iOS updates in spring. As spotted by the folks at Emojipedia this week, the Unicode Consortium recently published the full list of draft emojis that could debut next year. Among the list of new additions are a smiley face with squinting eyes, a pickle, an eraser, and more. more…

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Apple's chip partner TSMC revenue driven to new heights by iPhone & AI
TSMC has reported a higher than predicted Q4 revenue increase, chiefly because of demand for AI processors such as those in the iPhone.A worker passing a TSMC signTwo years after TSMC had a dramatic drop in revenue, its latest report says that AI demand has proven to be a huge boost. According to Reuters the company saw a 20.45% year over year increase in fourth-quarter revenue.TSMC will not publish its full earnings report until January 15, 2025, when it is also to provide guidance for both the current quarter and the full year. That guidance will include capital expenditure plans and revenue forecasts. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Spring Event 2026: When it’s expected, how to watch, and all the rumors
Macworld Expectations are high that Apple is planning a number of new product releases in the spring 2026 time frame, including the iPhone 17e and new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, but will the company hold a spring event, and if it does, when will Apple’s spring event take place? Apple has held six spring events over the past decade, with notable gaps in 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2025; Apple may well have held an event in 2020 if it wasn’t for the pandemic. So, Apple doesn’t always hold a spring event, but when it does, it usually takes place in March or April – with the exception of 2024, when Apple surprised us all by issuing invites to an event on May 7. In this article, we explain what you need to know about Apple’s rumored spring event, including the expected timing, how to watch it, and what Apple might launch. Will Apple hold a spring event in 2026? Let Loose was the tagline for Apple’s spring event in 2024.Apple No event has been confirmed, despite a number of new products thought to be coming in the spring timeframe. Apple may not hold a dedicated event to launch them. In recent years Apple has moved away from holding events to launch new products. It’s continued to hold a keynote to kick off WWDC in June and an event to celebrate the launch of a new iPhone in September, but the spring and late fall events have become less certain, but for not for any lack of product announcements. For example, in 2025, Apple skipped the traditional spring event. Instead, the company opted for a series of event-free launches: the iPhone 16e debuted on February 19, followed by updated iPad and iPad Air models announced via press release on March 4. A day later, Apple introduced the M4 MacBook Air and Mac Studio in a separate announcement. Will Apple once again roll out its spring products without an event, or will it return to a keynote-style presentation to maximise attention on new announcements? As we asked previously, is the era of the Apple event over? We hope not. Apple’s spring event is one of the three or four big events in Apple’s yearly cycle of announcements. There’s the big iPhone/Mac software announcements at WWDC in the summer, the iPhone launch in September, sometimes we see Apple make Mac and iPad announcements in October or November, and (some years) we get some hardware reveals at a spring event in March or April. At these events Apple executives hit the stage–whether real or virtual–and boast about some recent successes, before revealing what new products are about to launch. For more detail on Apple’s calendar of events, read When is the next Apple event? When is the Spring Apple event 2026? Apple hasn’t announced an event… yet. Event could happen in early March, or even February. Apple hasn’t announced an event yet, but if a spring event is to take place we can get an idea of when it will happen based on previous spring events, which tended to take place on a Tuesday or a Wednesday in March or April (see the list of dates at the bottom of this article). Alternatively, we could anticipate the launch of the iPhone 17e coming a year after the iPhone 16e launched, which was February 19, 2025. We can also get clues from and other events happening around that time. For example, Mobile World Congress (MWC) runs from March 2 – 5, 2026. Various major phones launched at MWC in 2025, including Samsung’s Galaxy A series (A26, A36, A56) featuring Galaxy AI. If Apple wants to steal the show with the iPhone 17e launch it could do it that week. Apple may also want to get the new devices on sale before then end of the January to March financial quarter. If it misses that deadline it’s likely we will have to wait until later in April as Easter is April 5. With all that in mind, the most likely Apple spring event dates are around: February 17 or 24. March 3, 10, 17, 24. Apple previously held a Spring event on the following dates: 2025: no event 2024: Tuesday May 7: (“Let Loose“): 11 & 14-inch iPad Pro M4, 11 & 14-inch iPad Air M2, Apple Pencil Pro 2023: no event 2022, Tuesday March 8: (“Peek Performance,” virtual): New iPhone SE, new iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display, and new iPhone color options 2021, Tuesday April 20: (“Spring Loaded,” virtual): New iPad Pro and iMac, Apple TV 4K, AirTags, new iPhone color options and iOS 14.7 2020: no event 2019, Monday March 25: (“It’s show time“): Apple Card, and the News+, TV+, and Arcade subscription services 2018, Tuesday March 27: (“Let’s take a field trip“): New iPad and education announcements 2017: no event 2016, Monday March 21: (“Let us loop you in“): iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and software updates 2015, Monday March 9: (“Spring Forward“): Apple Watch, a new MacBook, and iOS 8.2 2014: no event 2013: no event 2012, Wednesday March 7: (“We have something you really have to see. And touch“): 3rd-gen Apple TV and 3rd-gen iPad What will Apple launch in spring 2026? There are plenty of rumors suggesting that new Apple products are in the pipeline. iPhone update Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd There is said to be an iPhone 17e, an update to the iPhone 16e and a value-oriented alternative to the iPhone 17, coming this spring. Read more here: iPhone 17e: Everything you need to know. iPad updates A refreshed iPad Air featuring the M4 chip is expected to launch early in the year. A new entry-level iPad equipped with the A18 chip is also predicted for the spring lineup. MacBook updates MacBook Air and MacBook Pro updates are coming soon.Foundry While the entry-level M5 MacBook Pro launched in late 2025, the more powerful MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations are expected to arrive in spring 2026. Read more here: MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max release date – Where are the Pro MacBooks? A new MacBook Air powered by the M5 chip is also slated to launch this spring. Read more here: M5 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know before it launches. Home and AI Apple is reportedly developing a smart home hub with a built-in screen, often referred to as the “HomePad”. The spring of 2026 is expected to be a turning point for Apple’s software ecosystem, specifically regarding its voice assistant. What time will Apple’s spring event start? Apple’s events generally start at 10 am in local (California, PT) time, but in May 2024 the event started at 7am PT. Here’s what that time translated to in various locations around the world: U.K.: 3 pm (BST) Central Europe: 4 pm (CEST) U.S.: 7 am (PT), 8 am (MT), 9 am (CT), 10 am (ET) Canada: 7 am (PT), 8 am (MT), 9 am (CT), 10 am (ET) India: 7.30 pm (IST) Singapore and China: 11 pm Japan: next day at 2 am (JST) Australia: 11 pm (AWST), 11.30 pm (ACST), midnight (AEST) New Zealand: next day at 2 am (NZST) If Apple holds the event at the usual time of 10am PT the timing will be as follows (allow for daylight saving time changes, which happen at different times around the world). U.S.: at 10 am (PST/PDT), 11 am (MST/MDT), noon (CST/CDT), 1 pm (EST/EDT) Canada: as above, and 2 pm (AST/ADT) U.K.: at 6 pm (GMT/BST) Europe: at 7pm (CET/CEST), 8 pm (EET/EEST) India: at 10.30 pm (IST) Australia: Next day at 1 am (AWST/AWDT), 2.30 am (ACST/ACDT), 3 am (AEST/AEDT) New Zealand: Next day at 5 am (NZST/NZDT) Apple events generally last between one and two hours. How to watch Apple’s spring event Apple The best way to watch an Apple event – if there is one – would be to get an invite to attend in person, but most of us won’t be so lucky. Fortunately, Apple will also live stream the presentation so everyone can watch along. The first place to try is right at the top of this article where we will have embedded Apple’s YouTube stream. You can also watch on Apple’s events page, which will have the live stream on the night. Indeed, the main Apple.com home page usually shows the presentation while it is happening. If you’ve got an iPhone, an iPad, an Apple TV, or a Mac–assuming the device has sufficiently up-to-date software–you can watch the stream on the TV app. PC owners can also watch, but will need to visit Apple’s site as mentioned above. After the event is finished, it will also be available to rewatch in the Podcasts and TV apps, and on Apple’s website. Finally, Apple has for certain events in the past held broadcast events in Apple Stores, so it may be worth contacting your nearest outlet to see if they have anything planned. More information about watching the event here: How to watch Apple’s event. When were Apple’s past spring events held Apple previously held a Spring event on the following dates: 2025: no event 2024: Tuesday May 7: (“Let Loose“): 11 & 14-inch iPad Pro M4, 11 & 14-inch iPad Air M2, Apple Pencil Pro 2023: no event 2022, Tuesday March 8: (“Peek Performance,” virtual): New iPhone SE, new iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display, and new iPhone color options 2021, Tuesday April 20: (“Spring Loaded,” virtual): New iPad Pro and iMac, Apple TV 4K, AirTags, new iPhone color options and iOS 14.7 2020: no event 2019, Monday March 25: (“It’s show time“): Apple Card, and the News+, TV+, and Arcade subscription services 2018, Tuesday March 27: (“Let’s take a field trip“): New iPad and education announcements 2017: no event 2016, Monday March 21: (“Let us loop you in“): iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and software updates 2015, Monday March 9: (“Spring Forward“): Apple Watch, a new MacBook, and iOS 8.2 2014: no event 2013: no event 2012, Wednesday March 7: (“We have something you really have to see. And touch“): 3rd-gen Apple TV and 3rd-gen iPad What has Apple launched in past spring events? You can still watch the spring 2024 event on YouTube. Here’s what Apple has announced at previous spring events: 2024: Tuesday May 7: New iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4) models. Updates to Magic keyboards for iPads and new Apple Pencil Pro. Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro updates. 2023: no event 2022, Tuesday March 8: (“Peek Performance,” virtual): New iPhone SE, new iPad Air, Mac Studio and Studio Display, and new iPhone color options 2021, Tuesday April 20: (“Spring Loaded,” virtual): New iPad Pro and iMac, Apple TV 4K, AirTags, new iPhone color options and iOS 14.7 2020: no event 2019, Monday March 25: (“It’s show time”): Apple Card, and the News+, TV+, and Arcade subscription services 2018, Tuesday March 27: (“Let’s take a field trip”): New iPad and education announcements 2017: no event 2016, Monday March 21: (“Let us loop you in”): iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and software updates 2015, Monday March 9: (“Spring Forward”): Apple Watch, a new MacBook, and iOS 8.2 2014: no event 2013: no event 2012, Wednesday March 7: (“We have something you really have to see. And touch”): 3rd-gen Apple TV and 3rd-gen iPad What happens at an Apple event? Like most tech-company launch events, it will feature both fluff and substance. Expect some tedious bragging at the beginning; this may cover such topics as operating system adoption rates, hardware customer reviews, and eco-friendly manufacturing policies. But Apple wouldn’t hold an event if there wasn’t something worth hearing, and we should get into proper announcements within 10 minutes or so. Generally, you can expect multiple separate announcements at an Apple event.

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How to simplify and declutter the Apple gear in your life
Macworld The new year is a perfect time to clear out our spaces. Whether you’ve just got a bunch of new gear or just want a fresh start, it’s a great time to pare down your pile of once-loved tech, and clear out drawers and cupboards of cables, adapters, old iPhones and iPads, straighten out clunky power banks and chargers, and make everything neat and clean again. So follow along with our advice. Declutter your Apple life: The basics If you’re like us, you have a drawer filled with obsolete and vintage gear that you’re never going to use. It’s time to let it go. Obsolete devices and their media: Old phones, tablets, and smartwatches, ancient chargers for devices you no longer own (or have any idea where they came from), MP3 players and once-cherished iPods, CD and DVD players (plus the discs and cases). You can even make some money by selling them to a third-party recycler such as Back Market. Broken things: You haven’t fixed them yet, so you never will. Anything broken should be recycled and forgotten. Duplicate items: Having a spare is often a good idea, but do you need that many mice or keyboards? For your main input devices, use a wireless mouse and keyboard. Keep around a wired version for an emergency spare, as rarely used Bluetooth models will never be charged up when you suddenly need them. Also, make sure the wired item doesn’t have a built-in USB-A connector when your newer Mac has USB-C/Thunderbolt. (If it does, Ugreen sells a four-pack of USB-A to USB-C adapters for under $10.) Declutter your Apple life: Cables There are many benefits of upgrading to a newer iPhone—superior cameras, better battery life, and access to vital security updates are major ones—but a big advantage of an iPhone 15 or later is moving away from Apple’s discontinued Lightning connector to the now ubiquitous USB-C. USB-C is the same connector used on iPads and Macs (also known as Thunderbolt) and other Apple devices, as is now mandated by the EU. That brings you closer to ditching the whole mangle of cables from your home or office drawer. If you own an older AirPods case or Magic keyboard, you might still require a Lightning cable, but just one is all you really need. While you’re at it, you can get rid of older USB-A and MicroUSB cables as well—or rather replace any devices that rely on them. Foundry USB-C cables are universal, but they’re not completely interchangeable, however. Some are made for high-speed data transfers (for connecting your Mac to hard drives and monitors, for example), and others will quickly charge your devices but transfer data slowly. If you’re mostly concerned about charging, nearly every cable accumulated over the years will support 60W charging at least, so grab a handful of varying lengths and you should be fine. Check out our list of the best USB-C and Thunderbolt cables if you want something fresh, and consider a cable that can handle multiple connectors. This Native Union Belt Cable Duo, for example, has USB-C at one end to connect to your wall or desktop charger and a double-headed USB-C & Lightning at the other, so you can use the cable for old and new devices without having to scramble around to find the one you need. Native Union Remember, however, that the goal is to have fewer cables, so once you’ve invested in one of the above or new USB-C cables, get rid of your old ones. There are advantages to using dedicated video connectors such as HDMI and DisplayPort, but most modern monitors can do everything you need via a single USB-C cable. So, if you can, ditch the video cables and use a data-ready USB-C or Thunderbolt cable instead. Choose your next monitor to be one that supports USB-C. And recycle the HDMI and DisplayPort cables. If you still have VGA or DVI cables, you can junk those immediately. Only Windows users think those old-school pin connectors are something for this century. Declutter your Apple life: Chargers What you (and the planet) need is fewer chargers. The simplest way to achieve this is to consolidate. Buy a charger with decent power (over 65W is a good rule) and multiple ports. That way you can charge more than one device at a time using just the one charger. A wall charger, such as the Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN USB-C Charger, pictured below, plugs directly into a power outlet and has between one and four ports. A desktop charger connects to the power socket with its own plug rather than inserting itself into the socket via prongs. You should prioritize USB-C ports, but look for one with an extra USB-A port for legacy devices. Or consider a power strip with multiple USB ports and also spare AC plug sockets. A power adapter such as this Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN USB-C Charger furnishes you with multiple USB ports for better cable management.Ugreen A multi-port wireless charger requires just a single power cable but can charge as many as three devices at the same time, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods,, using Apple’s magnetic MagSafe technology to create a strong and exact charging position between device and charger. The Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 requires just one USB-C cable to wirelessly charge three Apple devices at the same time.Simon Jary We have more details on which charger is right for you in our roundups of the best iPhone charger, best USB-C charger, and best wireless charger. If you want the best charger for Apple Watch, we have that covered too. Declutter your Apple life: Tech organizers After you’ve distilled your wires and charges down to the stuff you need, treat yourself to a tech organizer to keep everything in its right place. Joseph Joseph First, think about the tech you need the most in a hurry: charging cables, power banks, and wall chargers will likely figure here. Store these everyday essentials in one handy place. Consider an under-shelf storage drawer that clips under a cupboard shelf and keeps all the ugly tech hidden but close at hand. The neatest we’ve found is from fancy kitchen accessory maker Joseph Joseph, which sells one for around $20/£20. Tripped A more portable solution is to choose from the wide range of tech organizer pouches and bags. Over on our sister site Tech Advisor, I’ve picked out the best tech organizer bags for you to choose from. Buying one or more of these will quickly organize the tech you need to keep or simply don’t have the courage to dispose of. Pictured above is the $39 Tripped Tech Traveler that can hold most of what you need to keep your tech ticking, and is available in seven colors. A larger option is a flight case, of which there are plenty to choose from on Amazon. Pull out the foam padding, and you can store/hide a lot of tech in these. Storing the rarely used tech in a flight case is a tidy and portable way of reducing all the clutter from your home or workspace. Mine are full of packed tech organizer bags (see top) for even more clever storage. Declutter your Apple life: iPhone upgrades Aside from better battery life and the latest security updates, upgrading from an old iPhone adds functionality—including superior hardware functions such as much-improved cameras and MagSafe. But newer iPhones also help you in your decluttering endeavours. Apple has used USB-C as the charging port in all iPhones since the iPhone 15, which means you are a step closer to junking all those Lightning cables. iPhones later than version 12 can be charged wirelessly, saving on the need for charging cables. And the best magnetic power banks also keep going when cables fail you—as long as you’ve kept one charged up. The colorful Belkin BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank Qi2 is shown below. Belkin Declutter your Apple life: Downsize your gear We all hold onto old devices, especially Apple ones, long past their shelf life. Maybe they’re in a drawer, a closet, or still collecting dust on a shelf, but it’s time to get rid of them. Obsolete or broken: Dispose of responsibly according to local laws and guidance so you can avoid landfill where possible. Check out the U.S. Electronics Donation and Recycling advice and similar tech recycling advice from the U.K., but let’s face it, a lot of this stuff is going to end up in your waste bin. Not too old and still works: As long as it’s not ancient, you should try to donate or sell it. Apple offers decent discounts on new items when you trade in an old device, as do other stores. If the device isn’t eligible for credit, Apple will recycle it—and any accessories you no longer use—securely and for free. There are retailers that specialize in second-hand tech, and you can get decent money selling your unwanted kit from the likes of Back Market, Vinted, and of course eBay. In the U.K., Music Magpie is another option. Simon Jary Declutter your Apple life: Software This article is about physically decluttering all the tech gear cluttering your house or office space, but there is much you can do to digitally declutter your iOS device or Mac. Check out our other articles below advising on decluttering what’s on the remaining devices. Foundry Best Mac Cleaner software 2026: Reclaim disk space with a Mac cleaner app How to check a Mac’s free hard drive space How to clear disk space on a Mac How to speed up a slow Mac Foundry iPhone System Data and Other storage: What is it and how to get rid of it Increase your iPhone storage with these tips My 64GB iPhone was so low on space it barely worked. Here’s how I saved it 11 decluttering rules There’s a whole industry of declutter influencers, each with their own rules and decluttering hacks. We’ve gathered the main ones here. Choose which ones make sense for your tech decluttering project. 90/90: If you haven’t used it in 90 days and won’t in the next 90, let it go. This rule doesn’t work with seasonal items, such as Christmas decorations or vacation luggage, but holds true of most of the stuff cluttering up your space. One-in, One-out: When you buy a new gadget, get rid of a similar old item. Don’t Tidy When Tired:. Decluttering can take a long time so set aside a decent chunk of time to get it done during the day rather than in the evening when you’re already tired. Less Before More: Don’t buy organizers until you’ve purged significant amounts of stuff you no longer need. You can’t just organize clutter. Buying more products won’t solve the original “too-much stuff” problem. 80/20: Aim to leave 20% of your space empty so you aren’t full of stuff again as soon as you’ve done. 20/20: Can you replace this item for less than $20 and in under 20 minutes? If the answer to both is yes, you can probably discard it, as it’s a low-cost, easily replaceable “just in case” item that clutters your space and mind. Of course, as soon as you bin it, you’ll need it! But be brave. Buy It Now: If you wouldn’t buy it now, now is the time to get rid of it. Marie Kondo Method: Gather one thing to go through each time. Don’t tackle old phones and digital cameras at the same time as drawers full of cables. Get the cables all together and sort through these first. Start with the Boring Stuff: Begin with things you’re not emotionally attached to, such as cables and charging plugs, rather than much-loved old phones and computers with memories attached. This helps you boost your purging confidence. Five Box: Keep (only stuff you need), Trash, Donate, Recycle, and Relocate. 10-10-10: Declutter 10 items from 10 different areas over 10 days. For tech try these: cables, adapters, chargers, old iPhones & iPads, old Macs, old power banks (battery capacity too small but way too big in comparison to the latest models), old cases for those old phones, old power extenders, old mice & keyboards, old hard drives (they aren’t backup backups, they’re just a security risk).

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Evercore raises its Apple price target to $330 on iPhone 17 demand
Investment firm Evercore has upgraded its price target for Apple, again because of the continued success of the iPhone 17 family.Demand for the iPhone 17 range has centered on the higher-end models like the iPhone 17 ProBack in September 2025, Evercore raised its target price twice, going from $250 to $290, expressly because of the iPhone 17 and then the iPhone Air. In late October, the price went to $300, again because of the strong sales of the new models.But then in December 2025, it was the expectation that an overhauled Siri would drive sales in 2026 that prompted a target rise to $325. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This iPhone leak may be fake but it hides some very real truths
Macworld Back in 2017, when Apple unveiled the iPhone X, it wasn’t greeted with the unbridled adoration we have for it now. After fantastical rumors of a borderless phone with a wraparound design and virtual Home button, people were naturally underwhelmed at first by the notch, the loss of Touch ID, and reliance on gesture navigation.  Now, nearly 10 years later, Apple is reportedly working on another milestone phone with a radical design that seems almost impossible to believe. Rumors of the so-called 20th-anniversary iPhone paint a picture of a handset with curved edges, imperceptible bezels, an invisible selfie camera, and an entirely new design. It’s due to arrive in 2027 following the launch of the iPhone Fold later this year. Between now and then, rumors and excitement are sure to build to a fever pitch. We’ll see renders, concepts, and wild descriptions that paint the picture of a phone that blows our minds. But as with the iPhone X, we should probably temper those expectations a bit. That’s why this rumor from Schrödinger on X might be the most truthful of all. He cites and posts a Telegram transcript with three Apple engineers supposedly working on the anniversary iPhone. Instead of reporting that it will have “piezoelectric ceramics” or a “waterfall” display, his report is actually pretty sober as anniversary iPhone rumors go. The first engineer, who reportedly works in display systems, says the anniversary phone actually isn’t a quad-curved display. Instead, it’s made of “quad-curved glass with a flat display underneath.” The second engineer, from “Mechanical/ID” explains, “The OLED panel itself remains flat. The curvature is entirely in the cover glass.” The 20th-anniversary iPhone probably won’t have a curved display like the Note Edge.Foundry The display engineer then explains that “Apple’s goal here is the illusion of an invisible bezel. Quad-curved glass lets the glass flow over the edge so components can sit beneath without hard visual breaks.” The second engineer adds: “It’s an optical and industrial design solution, not a display architecture change.” That means the display tech won’t actually be all that innovative. Compared to, say, the Galaxy Note Edge from 2014, or even the iPhone X, the iPhone 20 will be more illusion than innovation. Schrödinger also asks how the rumored under-display components would be affected, to which the display engineer replies, “The glass needs to be slightly taller in the vertical stack. That extra height improves light transmission and diffusion for the under-display camera.” While a third engineer from the human interface/touch department adds: “Without that additional glass depth, UDC performance suffers contrast loss, flare, and color distortion increase significantly.” The human interface/touch department chimes in: “And it’s not just aesthetics. The glass curvature also helps with durability. Stress is distributed more evenly compared to sharp flat edges, which reduces edge chipping.”  Whether this conversation is real or completely fabricated, the ideas presented make a lot of sense. According to this explanation, the iPhone 20 won’t have a revolutionary wraparound bezel-less display; it’ll have a normal display with wraparound glass that gives the illusion of a bezel-free display. Quad-curved glass sounds much more believable than some of the rumors we’ve heard. It would be a very Apple move to make the anniversary iPhone appear to be more revolutionary than it actually is. As one of the engineers sums it up: “That’s the core idea. It looks radical, but technically it’s a very conservative and very Apple solution.”

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QNAP TBS-h574TX NASbook review: Fast workgroup storage
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Supports both M.2 and E.1S NVMe SSDs Excellent throughput via Ethernet (10Gbps) and Thunderbolt (20Gbps) Unique semi-retro look Myriad NAS/server software features Cons Not cheap. Our Verdict If you’re looking for fast, versatile workgroup storage, the highly capable TBS-h574TX deserves close scrutiny. It can be accessed directly via Thunderbolt or remotely via the network and offers all the software capabilities NAS/server boxes bring to the table. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$1,449 without SSDs Best Prices Today: QNAP TBS-h574TX Thunderbolt SSD NAS Retailer Price $1449 View Deal QNAP $1449 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket QNAP’s combo NAS/DAS (Network/Direct) attached TBS-h574TX storage box gives you the best of both worlds. It allows any number of users to connect to it over the local network at 10Gbps (or 2.5Gbps) and leverage it as shared storage or employ the myriad NAS/server apps and capabilities. But you can also attach it to your Mac’s Thunderbolt port for twice-as-fast 20Gbps (network bridge) local access to the data on board. Sweet. The TBS-h574TX is a somewhat retro-looking, squat rectangle of a NAS (network-attached storage)/direct-attached box measuring 2.36 inches thick, 8.46 inches wide, by 7.83 inches deep. It’s a most substantial piece of metal-based kit, weighing in at just a hair under 5 pounds. With the no-slip feet, there’s little chance of knocking this puppy off the desk. Just the same, make sure all cables are secured at some point before they reach the box. I’ve seen more instances of tripping on wires, pulling hardware off its perch, than actual displacement of the equipment itself. There are five bays with easy-access drive trays on board that accept state-of-the-art E.1S (see the explanation below) or M.2 (4.5mm heatsinks or thinner) NVMe SSDs. You can access the bays/tray from the front of the TBS-h574TX after removing the locking, pop-off, top half of the front cover. The SSD slots are PCIe 3.0, though you may use PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 SSDs, which are, of course, backwards compatible. I recommend PCIe 4.0 as PCIe 3.0 SSDs are becoming pricey and hard to come by, and PCIe 5.0 is expensive overkill. The front of the QNAP TBS-h574TX with its cover off to expose the hot-swappable SSD bays. Along with the convenient Type-C Thunderbolt port on the face are another 10Gbps Type-A port, quick copy and power buttons, as well as power and activity indicator lamps. The Thunderbolt port on the back is PC/Mac connect-only, so you can’t use external devices or peripherals with it. Also on the back are 2.5Gbe and 10Gbe ports, a 10Gbps Type-A USB and 5Gbps Type-A port, as well as HDMI output. Then of course, there’s the coax power port. The back of the TBS-h574TX with its Ethernet ports, USB ports and dual exhaust fans. Note that you do not need to shut down the TBS-h574TX just to swap out a bad drive. If you use a suitable RAID mode (1, 1+0, 5, etc.) the array will remain available and rebuild in the background. Remember that when you configure the storage in any RAID-capable device. As a fully functional NAS box/server, the TBS-h574TX we tested sported a 4.5Ghz, Core i5-1340PE (12 cores, 16 threads) and 16GB of DRAM, plus 5GB of NAND for basic functionality before you install the full operating system. Note that this differed from the a 4.4GHz Core i5-1235U CPU listed on the product page. If you’re not familiar with NAS and wonder “Why a CPU?”… The TBS-h574TX’s capabilities go far beyond simple storage. QNAP’s full-on QuTS hero OS, née (QTS NAS OS) and apps let it serve as a multimedia server, multimedia playback unit (via HDMI), a backup engine, virtual machine and docker host, surveillance station, and a lot more. I’ve used QNAP NAS boxes for years, and the backup capabilities (both local and cloud) are outstanding. Note that surveillance requires purchasing more licenses if you have more than one IP cam. Just some of the apps available for the QuTS hero OS that runs the TBS-h574TX. What are EDSFF and E.1S? EDSFF stands for Enterprise and Data center SSD Form Factor and covers several sizes of thermally enhanced designs. E.1S is the smallest, meant for SMB and end-user devices. E.1S is 33.5mm wide, 118.75mm long, and from 9mm to 25mm thick. The connector is the same M.2 you’ll find on consumer NVMe SSDs, hence the interchangeability. Better heat-shedding is the main thrust of EDSFF. That’s to handle the heavier loads that many enterprise storage devices experience, warding off any thermal throttling that might occur with less robust thermal designs. How much does the QNAP TBS-h574TX cost? The unpopulated (no SSDs) Core i5 version of the box that I tested runs a rather hefty $1,500 (£3,299 in the U.K.). There’s a Core i3 version available for $1,200. Those prices are considerably higher than the average consumer NAS box. QNAP itself markets 2-bay models for less than $200, and 5-bay (3.5-inch) models for less than $700 that offer the same OS and software, if not hardware features. However, given five E.1S-compatible SSD bays, Thunderbolt connectivity, and very powerful CPUs, we’re not sweating the TBS-h574TX’s cost. It’s worth it if you have the need. Just remember that you’ll need to populate the box. With normal M.2 SSDs, that could be well under $1,000. E.1S could get very expensive–several thousand dollars expensive. In fact, the one 7.6TB Kioxia XD7P model we found at CDW was over $7000. CDW is a high-quality service, not a bargain basement outfit, but yowser! How fast is the QNAP TBS-h574TX? The TBS-h574TX is fast in both modes: roughly 10 gigabits/1GBps across the network (given 10Gbe) and 20 gigabits/2GBps using the Thunderbolt bridge. Think Gen 2 USB and Gen 2×2 USB. The TBS-h574TX connected via Thunderbolt. I tested using a single 8TB WD 8100, but it’s easily capable of saturating the PCIe 3.0 bus as well as the Thunderbolt bridge and 10Gbe. Immediately below are the benchmark results using 10Gbe ethernet. BlackMagicDesign’s Disk Speed Test shows about what you’d expect from a 10Gbps protocol with networking overhead. ATTO showed even better 10Gbe numbers. More in line with what you’d see from direct connected USB Gen 2 10Gbps. Nice. I’m not sure why AmorphousDiskMark is so pessimistic about the TBS-h574TX’s write speed over ethernet. The other benchmarks and our real-life experience say it’s faster. While not the fastest 20Gbps numbers we’ve seen, those shown below certainly prove that the TBS-h574TX direct-attached using a Thunderbolt Ethernet bridge is a lot faster then over 10Gbe. ATTO rates the TBS-h574TX even faster than Disk Speed Test with larger transfers. Well over 2GBps. Again, for some reason AmorphousDiskMark delivers far slower write numbers using ethernet protocols than the other benchmarks. The TBS-h574TX doesn’t generate a lot of heat the way many Thunderbolt storage devices do. The case has a lot of surface area for shedding warmth, and the twin fans also (very quietly) remove a lot of it as well. As far as the performance of the HTML interface and the various functions such as backup, Docker, streaming etc. The relatively robust Intel CPU and 16GB of memory handle them quite nicely. I found all functions quite a bit sprightlier than with my older 253 series boxes. Not amazingly, but noticeably so. Should you buy the QNAP TBS-h574TX? The connective versatility of the TBS-h574TX makes it an excellent choice for artistic workgroups and creators. Share files over the network, use it directly attached for better performance, and leverage its numerous NAS/server features as needed. It’s business-grade equipment in a more prosumer-friendly form factor. That said, if you’re flying solo and don’t need to share content, straight Thunderbolt or USB4 storage will be both cheaper (not actually cheap…) and faster. You can then add NAS features with a cheaper box if needs be.

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Get the Office apps you actually use for $30 — Lifetime offer
Macworld TL;DR: Mac users are grabbing Microsoft Office 2019 for a one-time $29.97 instead of paying monthly for Microsoft 365. For many Mac users, paying a monthly fee just to handle everyday tasks like writing documents or building presentations has started to feel unnecessary. That’s why Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac is drawing attention at $29.97 (reg. $229). Rather than locking basic productivity tools behind a subscription, this version offers lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. The core Office apps haven’t changed dramatically over the years, yet Microsoft 365 still requires ongoing payments just to keep using them. Office 2019 takes a simpler approach by delivering the essentials outright, letting users pay once and move on without another monthly bill attached to their Mac. This version is a practical choice for freelancers, small business owners, students, and anyone who wants dependable productivity software without committing to a subscription. The apps feel familiar, run smoothly on macOS, and cover what most people actually need for day-to-day work. At this price, it’s a sensible alternative to newer Office releases that offer marginal upgrades many users never touch. License codes are limited, so availability may not last. Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for $29.97 (reg. $229) while codes are still available. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Stay connected abroad with $100 in mobile data for just $50 with this eSIM card
Macworld TL;DR: Prepay for $100 worth of data for just $50 with this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan deal, the best price on the web. Crossing some places off your travel bucket list this year? If you’re leaving the United States, an aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan lets you prepay for data so you can stay connected from the moment you land. Right now, you can even get $100 of credit for only $50 with this deal. Get data for half off with this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data deal Don’t come home from an amazing trip to a small fortune in roaming charges. An eSIM card is an affordable and easy way to stay connected abroad, and this deal from aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan lets you secure a $100 credit for just $50. With aloSIM, you can connect to fast 5G and LTE local networks in over 200 countries. There are no surprise charges; you just install the eSIM card before your trip. Your eSIM card never expires, but the data will — so note the time length of your data package when you purchase. If you need more data during your trip, it’s easy to add more as you go. Take advantage of this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan $100 for $50 deal, now available for the best price on the web. aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan: $100 CreditSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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How to bring back Launchpad on macOS Tahoe
Launchpad has been dropped in macOS Tahoe and it is either greatly missed, or dismissed with a shrug. If you're the former, there are things you can do to get it (mostly) back.Some people miss Launchpad. For some reason.Just in case you either have no idea what Launchpad was, it did once seem like it was going to be an essential Mac tool. In 2021, AppleInsider even answered readers' questions with a guide to how to set it up and make the most of it.As that guide explained, Launchpad was an icon in your Dock and clicking on it brought up an overlay on your screen. In front of whatever you were working on, you now had this whole screen full of very large app icons and a very small search bar at the top. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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