Gentler Streak’s Wellness section now features cardio fitness data
Starting today, Gentler Streak users can check VO₂ max estimate data, with trends and averages, for a more complete snapshot of their fitness. Here are the details. more…

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The Edge of Tomorrow Takes Shape at HP
HP is advancing an edge-first AI strategy, focusing on running models locally across devices and workflows. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Here’s the most powerful charger worth buying for each Apple device
The charging brick that came with your Apple device – or the one recommended by Apple, in the case of iPhones – usually won’t get you the fastest charge. It can be worth spending a bit more money on a more powerful charger. Conversely, every Apple device has its own maximum charging rate, and buying a charger which exceeds this is just a waste of money … more…

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Apple Ireland appears to have broken sanctions on Russia
Apple's Ireland subsidiary has been fined half a million dollars by UK regulators who say the company probably broke sanctions against Russia.Moscow — image credit:WikimediaAfter Russia began its attacks on Ukraine in 2022, both the US and Europe imposed sanctions that, for example, meant Apple Pay no longer being available. Now according to the Financial Times, a UK regulator has fined Apple over payments to Okko, a Russian online video streaming service.The UK is not part of the European Union, but the payments were made via a UK-based bank. Consequently, the country's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) had the authority to impose the fine of $517,946.25. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple I to the Macintosh: 1976 to 1985
Macworld Apple’s first decade is filled with products that are iconic, not just within Apple’s own history, but the history of technology. Apple is often cited as the originator of personal computing, releasing products that empowered generations of users and set the example for how technology can be used by the masses. This era saw three different computing platforms come from Apple–that’s how uncertain the future was. By the end of the decade, the Macintosh would emerge as the primary focus for Apple, which would eventually form the basis for iOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Here’s how the first 10 years of Apple, 1976-1985, shaped the future. April 1976: Apple I Foundry The computer that started it all didn’t even come with a case–the Apple I was just a circuit board, and buyers had to bring their own case, which resulted in some unique setups that would make Jony Ive cringe. (“Wood? Bollocks.”) Apple made about 200 computers that had a 1.02MHz CMOS Technology 6502 microprocessor and 4K of RAM, and introduced the Apple I at $666.66, which was later reduced to $475. Because of its rarity and historic influence, the Apple I sometimes becomes available through auctions, and the bidding reaches the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the value of the Apple I in tech history can’t be measured–while other computers came before it, the Apple I sparked the personal computing revolution and firmly established Apple as a tech company not just for business people but for everyone. June 1977: Apple II RR Auction Apple’s second computer, the Apple II, was its first mass-market success. It was designed to appeal to everyday folks, not just the hobbyists who invested in an Apple I. Steve Wozniak made improvements that heightened its utility, and even though its $1,298 price tag was higher than competitors’, the Apple II was a huge hit. How huge? The Apple II is often cited as one of the greatest computers of all time, if not the greatest. Apple continued with the Apple II line for 16 years, and while the Macintosh eventually became the company’s main platform, the Apple II blazed a trail that even today’s Macs still follow. January 1983: Apple Lisa Computer History Museum The Apple Lisa (officially Local Integrated Software Architecture ) was the first personal computer with a graphical user interface, which used a document-centric approach and even allowed files to have the same name (which was unheard of in early computer interfaces). Its all-in-one design had a 5MHz Motorola 68000 CPU, support for up to 2MB of RAM, and a 12-inch monochrome display. Named after Steve Jobs’ estranged daughter, it was originally priced at $9,995. Lisa’s legacy is as complicated as the relationship Jobs had with its namesake, but there’s no denying its importance. In 1980, Steve was kicked off the Lisa project and latched into the Macintosh group, which borrowed many of Lisa’s attributes, namely its GUI. Bruce Daniels, who played a major role on both the Lisa and Macintosh development teams, once said, “All the Mac groups were willing to say that  if there had not been a Lisa, there never would have been a Mac.” December 1983: ImageWriter The Centre for Computing History Apple had released printers before 1983, but the ImageWriter was the first that worked with both the Apple II and Macintosh (which wouldn’t arrive for another month). It was one of the first dot-matrix printers, so it could print low-resolution graphics; a lot of other printers used daisy-wheel mechanisms that were meant to produce only text. It wasn’t until ImageWriter II in 1985 that the project took off and Apple finally discontinued it after 11 years. The ImageWriter II had a sleeker, more refined design, better speed and print modes, and could print in color if you changed the ribbon. By the mid-1980s, laser printers were beginning to transform publishing, and the Apple LaserWriter became the industry standard.  January 1984: Macintosh 128K Foundry The Macintosh 128K set into motion the core of Apple’s business and empowered users everywhere. But the Macintosh was, at first, considered a research project at Apple; the company was more focused on the Apple Lisa. That all changed when Steve Jobs, determined to “make a dent in the universe,” took over the Macintosh team. Here’s why 1984 wasn’t like 1984: The first Macintosh arrived with an 8MHz Motorola 6800 CPU, supported up to 1MB of RAM, and had a built-in 9-inch monochrome display. System 1.0 ran off a 400K floppy disk, and Disk Swapper’s Elbow became a badge of honor that bonded those early users.  It’s been 40 years since its debut, but the core features of System 1—the Finder, menu bar, and Control Panel—are still a part of today’s macOS 26, a testament to the versatility of the original idea. March 1985: LaserWriter Gammal trotjänare. Wikipedia When the Macintosh was introduced, it was immediately apparent how it was built for creative work, but it needed an affordable device to satisfy professionals who wanted high-quality prints or their creations. The Apple LaserWriter did that, and ushered in what Paul Brainerd termed “desktop publishing.” The LaserWriter introduced the world to PostScript, Adobe’s page description language that enabled printers to reproduce graphics at the quality that professionals demand. It was also networkable, so that several Macs could connect to it and print. This networkability helped to offset its $6,995 price. This is part one of a five-part series exploring 50 years of Apple product releases. Stay tuned to Macworld all week as we explore all five decades, continuing tomorrow with 1986-1995.

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The top 50 people who shaped Apple, ranked
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. The list is presented in reverse order and will be expanded with 10 new names each day across this week. Who do you think will make the top 10? Drop us a message on Bluesky or Threads. 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. 49. Al Gore Kleiner Perkins The former vice president of the United States is better known, of course, for his political career and climate advocacy. But Al Gore has made a small mark on Apple’s history too: After his failed bid to become president of the United States, he joined Apple’s Board of Directors. “Al brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Apple from having helped run the largest organization in the world: the United States government,” Jobs said at the time of his election. No, not that election. 48. Michael Spindler Apple Wiki During its 50 years, Apple has had seven full-time CEOs. Six of them are in this list. (Michael Scott, who was more memorable for the number of people he fired than the new products he oversaw, misses out.) Michael Spindler, who ran things from 1993 to 1996, is our next lowest-ranked CEO. His era wasn’t exactly a golden one, but he deserves recognition for the momentous launch of the first PowerPC Macs on his watch, as well as bold failures such as the clone licensing program. Spindler also fired a bunch of people and tried to merge with IBM, but nobody’s perfect. 47. Bill Gates Microsoft Apple fans are mainly familiar with Bill Gates as the guy trying to get everyone to run Microsoft DOS or Windows instead of Mac OS through the 1980s and 1990s. But it’s important to remember that Apple probably wouldn’t have survived the latter decade without Microsoft’s $150 million investment (and its commitment to keep developing Office for the Mac) in 1997, and it was Gates who made that call. This felt like a Faustian bargain, but unusually for those types of stories, everything worked out OK in the end.  46. Bob Belleville Folklore.org Jobs famously recruited John Sculley from PepsiCo by asking him if he wanted to sell sugared water for the rest of his life. Bob Belleville, working at the time for Xerox, reportedly got the even less flattering line “Everything you’ve ever done in your life is shit, so why don’t you come work for me?” Perhaps surprisingly, this worked, and Belleville spent three years leading both hardware and software engineering for the Macintosh and overseeing the development of the LaserWriter. In a 2015 documentary, he said that working under Jobs consumed his life and destroyed his marriage, yet movingly struggled to hold back tears while reading an obituary he wrote for his former boss. It’s hard to think of a better metaphor for the intense highs and desolate lows of working with Steve. 45. Chris Espinosa Meredith Espinosa Apple employee No. 8 joined the company in 1976 when he was just 14 (despite being warned about the notorious Steves by his teachers), and is still there today, making him Apple Inc.’s longest-serving employee. Espinosa did a bit of everything in the early days, from marketing to writing manuals and business plans, before finding his niche in technical projects such as Mac OS, Xcode, and AppleScript. Few can claim to have contributed so much, and none for so long. 44. Ridley Scott Getty Images Lots of successful film directors have dabbled in advertising, but rarely does the resultant work merit more than a faintly embarrassing footnote in their career. Not so with Ridley Scott, who had already made Alien and Blade Runner when he was approached to direct a high-profile spot for the upcoming Macintosh computer. He could have passed on the sort of thing as beneath his stature, but instead, he made what is widely considered the greatest TV commercial ever made. All that without even showing the product. Lots of successful film directors have dabbled in advertising, but rarely does the resultant work merit more than a faintly embarrassing footnote in their career. Not so with Ridley Scott, who had already made Alien and Blade Runner when he was approached to direct a high-profile spot for the upcoming Macintosh computer. He could have passed on the sort of thing as beneath his stature, but instead, he made what is widely considered the greatest TV commercial ever made. All that without even showing the product. 43. Rod Holt Alchetron Already well into his 40s by 1977, Rod Holt was reportedly skeptical about both Apple and Steve Jobs himself when first asked by his boss at Atari to “help the kids out.” He reportedly demanded a fee of $200 per day, which proved to be a wise investment. Holt designed a vital switching power supply for the Apple II and later joined full-time as employee No. 5, chief engineer, VP of engineering, and chief scientist. “This process of invention is very unusual,” he said on the Mac’s 30th birthday many years later. “I think the world could use a lot more of it.” 42. Angela Ahrendts Apple Apple’s first and for many years its only high-profile female executive, ex-Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts merits inclusion as the pioneer she undoubtedly was in a male-dominated industry. (Just look at how many men there are on this list.) But that would be to sell her short, because she also made an indelible mark on the company’s retail presence around the world. Every time you walk into an Apple Store, you’re seeing Ahrendts’ influence, and the value brought to Apple by her deep understanding of the fashion and luxury markets. 41. Daniel Kottke Twitter Having met Jobs (whom he described as “a really sweet guy, real quiet and shy”) at Reed College in 1972, Daniel Kottke later travelled extensively with the Apple founder. They trekked in India, seeking spiritual enlightenment, and they visited All One Farm, the Oregon commune owned by the love guru and LSD trafficker Robert Friedland. So it was natural enough, when Jobs started a company whose name was inspired by Friedland’s orchard, that he would bring his friend on board as Apple employee No. 12. A self-taught engineer with little computing knowledge, Kottke grew to become an invaluable member of the team. He assembled and debugged circuit boards (he reportedly still owns all 12 original Mac logic boards), built prototypes, and designed the Macintosh’s detached keyboard. His signature is even embossed inside the case. But Kottke lost favor with the boss. When Apple went public in 1980, Rod Holt offered to match whatever stock options Jobs would give his buddy. “OK,” Jobs replied. “I will give him zero.” Not such a sweet guy after all. This is part one of a five-part series counting down the most influential people throughout Apple’s 50-year history. Stay tuned to Macworld all week as we reveal the full list, continuing tomorrow with 40-31.

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iPhone will still exist 50 years from now, says Apple – and no AI execs
Apple SVP Eddy Cue has previously suggested that we may not be using iPhones ten years from now, but marketing chief Greg Joswiak appears to disagree. Joz said in a new interview that it’s hard to imagine that we won’t still be using an iPhone 50 years from now … more…

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We all know the crazy ones, here’s to the forgotten ones
Macworld I’ve spent the past few weeks working on a fun long-form feature: a list of 50 people who helped to make Apple the company it is today. This is, of course, in honor of Apple’s 50th anniversary, which it celebrates on Wednesday, April 1. My list will be published in five instalments across this week, starting today, and I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed writing it. One thing that surprised me was how many names there were to choose from: not just people who’ve worked at or in connection with Apple, but people whose contributions have made a tangible difference to the company’s story. It seemed like the challenge would be finding 50 really worthwhile names in order to match the birthday number; in fact, the hard part was narrowing it down that far. Even after my list was set, colleagues kept suggesting extra people that I would then realise had to be included. It was infuriating. Of course, the line had to be drawn somewhere; the list of Apple’s 60 greatest people will have to wait until 2036, and who knows what we’ll be doing by then. The cut-off point was 50, and this meant that some amazingly talented people didn’t make it in. I don’t want to give too much away—I certainly won’t be revealing any of the rankings, you’ll have to read the article to find those out—but I thought it might be nice to mention a few deserving but lesser-known names I considered. Half of them made the cut, and half did not. There are 10 names in this list, presented alphabetically. Call yourself an Apple fan? See how many you recognize. Paul Brainerd: Coined the term “desktop publishing” and released the first consumer DTP application: PageMaker, which was, critically for Apple’s development among the creative market, a Mac exclusive. Douglas Engelbart: Invented the mouse, hyperlinks, word processors, and untold other foundational computing concepts back in the 60s. These would wind their way, via Xerox PARC, to the groundbreaking interface elements of the Lisa and original Macintosh. Rob Janoff: Designed the second Apple logo, which, other than a few color changes, is the one Apple still uses today. The first Apple logo was pretty but also absolutely bonkers. John Knoll: Co-creator of Adobe Photoshop. Like PageMaker, this started life as a Mac exclusive. Jerry Manock: Worked on the designs of the Apple II, Apple III, Lisa, and Macintosh. Apple’s first designer, he is widely considered to be the father of the company’s Industrial Design Group. Tim Mott: A member of the Xerox PARC team whose breakthrough interface concepts would inspire the Macintosh. He is specifically known for inventing the double-click. Joy Mountford: Influential leader, from 1986 to 1996, of Apple’s Human Interface Group. This team of scientists and visual artists helped make the company’s products more user-friendly, and codified usability guidelines for Mac app developers. Marc Newson: Star designer who worked on the Apple Watch and Apple retail stores. Big buddies with Jony Ive, and they now have a company together. Burrell Smith: Engineer who designed the Mac’s motherboard. Was described by a colleague as the closest Apple ever came to having another Steve Wozniak. Bud Tribble: Software manager for the original Mac, and later a “policy czar” with a focus on privacy. Be honest. How many did you know? And while you’re at it, try to guess which ones made it into the article. Drop us a message on Bluesky or Threads. The answers to that will be revealed this week. 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. Apple turns 50: Anniversary special Apple at 50: 7 iconic products that proved everyone wrong. 7 Apple inventions that reinvented Apple. Apple turns the Sydney Opera House into an iPad canvas with stunning results. Trending: Top stories Even PC users have caught MacBook Neo fever, discovers the Macalope. The Mac Pro died so Apple silicon could live. Mahmoud Itani lists 12 hidden iMessage features every iPhone user should try. Put it in your calendar! Apple announces AI-fueled WWDC26 to kick off June 8. The most shocking finding in Ookla’s C1X report? People are buying the iPhone Air. This Mac mini dock looks like a classic Macintosh and has a working display. Podcast of the week Apple has announced the dates for its Worldwide Developers Conference. In the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast we also talk about Apple TV rumors, ads in Apple Maps, and more. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Slay The Spire 2: The best deck-builder just got better. The rumor mill iOS 27 rumored to bring a totally new Siri interface, ‘Ask’ button, and more. Software updates, bugs, and problems No new Siri, but iOS 26.4 is here with a ton of must-have new features. Apple urges iPhone users to update as new DarkSword hacking tool lands online. The OS 26.4 updates are loaded with security fixes, so grab them now! 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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Microsoft 365 usually costs $9.99/month, but it’s only $7.99 here
Macworld TL;DR: Get a 1-month Microsoft 365 subscription on sale for $7.99. Some subscriptions are worth it, and Microsoft 365 is definitely one of them because of all the little extras that aren’t available in Microsoft Office. It’s even better if you can get it on sale. Right now, a 1-month Microsoft 365 Personal Subscription is marked down from $9.99 to $7.99. Microsoft 365 Personal gives you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, along with a few add-ons that make it more useful than a basic Office setup. You can use it on up to five devices at the same time, including PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android, so it works well if you move between devices during the day. One of the biggest differences with Microsoft 365 is the 1TB of OneDrive storage. That gives you space for files, photos, videos, and backups, and it makes it easier to keep everything synced instead of emailing documents to yourself or digging through old downloads. Outlook is also included as an ad-free email app, and Microsoft Defender adds security tools for your personal data and devices. The subscription also includes Microsoft Editor for spelling and grammar help, Clipchamp for video editing, and Copilot inside the Microsoft apps. Right now, it’s only $7.99 to get a 1-month Microsoft 365 Personal Plan. Microsoft 365 Personal: 1-Month SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple's Early Days: Massive Oral History Shares Stories About Young Wozniak and Jobs
Apple's 50th anniversary is this week — and Fast Company's Harry McCracken just published an 11,000-word oral history with some fun stories from Apple's earliest days and the long and winding road to its very first home computers: Steve Wozniak, cofounder, Apple: I told my dad when I was in high school, "I'm going to own a computer someday." My dad said, "It costs as much as a house." And I sat there at the table — I remember right where we were sitting — and I said, "I'll live in an apartment." I was going to have a computer if it was ever possible. I didn't need a house. Woz even remembers trying to build a home computer early on with a teenaged Steve Jobs and Bill Fernandez from rejected parts procured from local electronics companies. Woz designed it — "not from anybody else's design or from a manual. And Fernandez was one of those kids that could use a soldering iron." Bill Fernandez: The computer was very basic. It was working, and we were starting to talk about how we could hook a teletype up to it. Mrs. Wozniak called a reporter from the San Jose Mercury, and he came over with a photographer. We set up the computer on the floor of Steve Wozniak's bedroom. Well, the core integrated circuit that ran the power supply that I built was an old reject part. We turned on the computer, and the power supply smoked and burnt out the circuitry. So we didn't get our photos in the paper with an article about the boy geniuses. But within a few years Jobs and Wozniak both wound up with jobs at local tech companies. Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell remembers that Steve Jobs "wasn't a good engineer, but he was a great technician. He was pristine in his ability to solder, which was actually important in those days." Meanwhile Allen Baum had shared Wozniak's high school interest in computers, and later got Woz a job working at Hewlett-Packard — where employees were allowed to use stockroom parts for private projects. ("When he needed some parts, even if we didn't have them, I could order them.") Baum helped with the Apple I and II, and joined Apple a decade later. Wozniak remembers being inspired to build that first Apple I by the local Homebrew Computing Club, people "talking about great things that would happen to society, that we would be able to communicate like we never did [before] and educate in new ways. And being a geek would be important and have value." And once he'd built his first computer, "I wanted these people to help create the revolution. And so I passed out my designs with no copyright notices — public domain, open source, everything. A couple of other people in the club did build it." But Woz and Jobs had even tried pitching the computer as a Hewlett-Packard product, Woz remembers: Steve Wozniak: I showed them what it would cost and how it would work and what it could do with my little demos. They had all the engineering people and the marketing people, and they turned me down. That was the first of five turndowns from Hewlett-Packard. Steve Jobs and I had to go into business on our own. In the end, Randy Wigginton, Apple employee No. 6 remembers witnessing Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne the signing of Apple's founding contract, "which is pretty funny, because I was 15 at the time." And it was Allen Baum's father who gave Wozniak and Jobs the bridge loan to buy the parts they'd need for their first 500 computers. After all the memories, the article concludes that "Trying to connect every dot between Apple, the tiny, dirt-poor 1970s startup, and Apple, the $3.7 trillion 21st-century global colossus, is impossible." But this much is clear: The company has always been at its best when its original quirky humanity and willingness to be an outlier shine through. Mark Johnson, Apple employee No. 13: I was in Cupertino just yesterday. It's totally different. They own Cupertino now. Jonathan Rotenberg, who cofounded the Boston Computer Society in 1977 at age 13: People want to hate Apple, because it is big and powerful. But Apple has an underlying moral purpose that is immensely deep and expansive... Mike Markkula, the early retiree from Intel whose guidance and money turned the garage startup into a company: The culture mattered. People were there for the right reasons — to build something transformative — not just to make money. That alignment produced extraordinary results... Steve Wozniak: Everything you do in life should have some element of joy in it. Even your work should have an element of joy... When you're about to die, you have certain memories. And for me, it's not going to be Apple going public or Apple being huge and all that. It's really going to be stories from the period when humble people spotted something that was interesting and followed it I'll be thinking of that when I die, along with a lot of pranks I played. The important things. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Vibe coding could mark the end of the App Store review process as we know it
Toward the tail end of last year, agentic coding (otherwise known as vibe coding) truly took off. With the launch of models like Claude Opus 4.5, it suddenly became possible to ask AI to build something for you, and it’d do it in a nearly fully functional way. That level of accuracy led to people taking a hands off approach to app building, and even enabled people who’ve never coded before to make apps. Whether or not you like this trend is another discussion. Either way, there’s one thing that holds true: App Store review isn’t cut out for it. more…

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Amazon slashes up to $200 off new M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pros
Both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are eligible for Big Spring Sale savings to the tune of up to $200 off, delivering the lowest prices on record.Save up to $200 on Apple's brand-new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro - Image credit: AppleApple's 2026 MacBook Pro is on sale at Amazon today, with 14-inch and 16-inch retail configurations eligible for triple-digit savings.Prices start at $2,049, with a breakdown of the deals below and in our MacBook Pro Price Guide. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Sunday Reboot: Addiction, VR, and how the iPhone Air doesn't suck
In this week's "Sunday Reboot," social addiction is a slippery slope for Apple's App Store, Nvidia CloudXR is a great thing for Apple Vision Pro gaming, and the iPhone Air isn't as bad as you'd think.Apple Vision Pro, YouTube, Instagram, iPhone AirSunday Reboot is a weekly column covering some of the lighter stories within the Apple reality distortion field from the past seven days. All to get the next week underway with a good first step.This week, Apple finally killed off the long-suffering Mac Pro, a severe "DarkSword" exploit"DarkSword" exploit was leaked that affects older iOS versions, and China pressed for more App Store openness. Apple's celebration in London also took place, with performances from Nia Archives and Mumford & Sons. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Sora isn’t the only thing OpenAI shut down this month
On Tuesday, OpenAI announced that the company is shutting down Sora, its AI-generated video app. The iPhone app only arrived in September, making its six-month existence brief and fun, much like using the app itself. It turns out Sora isn’t the only thing the makers of ChatGPT are nixing this month. more…

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How AudioBo simplifies converting audio files into M4B audiobooks on macOS
I have been an audiobook fan for decades. I have had an Audible subscription since 2008 (before they were owned by Amazon), and I have listened to hundreds, if not thousands, of books during that time. A few years ago, I wrote about my process of taking cheap CD audiobooks from Amazon and combining them into M4B files to host on my Plex server. Once I discovered it was possible to put these files into Plex on my Mac Mini, it became my go-to audiobook setup for me. Paired with the Prologue app, it creates the ultimate listening experience that you own and control. more…

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Anniversary party at Apple Park will feature a British Invasion performance
Apple will be ending its 50th-anniversary celebrations in the coming week, with an unnamed British performer set to entertain employees at Apple Park.Apple ParkApple's celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the company has resulted in performances around the world. To go out with a bang, the celebrations will be concluding at its headquarters.Posting to X, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes that the world tour will reach its finale sometime this week. The venue will be Apple Park. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Get smarter in 15 minutes: Grab a lifetime Headway sub for bestseller summaries
This book summaries app serves up bite-size bestsellers you can read, listen to or watch. Save on the Headway app. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 owners get Antennagate payout
On March 29, 2012, a settlement ended Apple's "Antennagate" controversy by giving affected iPhone 4 owners the chance to claim a $15 payout. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Now Requires Device-Level Age Verification in the UK. Could the US Be Next?
Apple unveiled new device-level age restrictions in the UK on Wednesday. "After downloading a new update, users will now have to confirm that they are 18 or older to access unrestricted features," reports Gizmodo. "Users will be able to confirm their age with a credit card or by scanning an ID." For those underage or who have not confirmed their age, Apple will turn on Web Content Filter and Communication Safety, which will not only restrict access to certain apps or websites, but will also monitor messages, shared photo albums, AirDrop, and FaceTime calls for nudity. Apple didn't specify exactly which services and features are banned for under-18 users, but it will likely be in compliance with UK legislation... The British government does not require Apple and other OS providers to institute device-level age checks, but it does restrict minor access to online pornography under the Online Safety Act, which passed in 2023. So far, that restriction has only been implemented at the website level, but UK officials have been worried about easy loopholes to evade the age restrictions, like VPNs. The broader tech industry has been campaigning for some time to use device-level age checks instead in response to the rising tide of under-16 social media and internet bans around the world. Last month, in a landmark social media trial in California, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also supported this idea, saying that conducting age verification "at the level of the phone is just a lot clearer than having every single app out there have to do this separately." Pornhub-operator Aylo had advocated for device-level restrictions in the UK as well, and even sent out letters to Apple, Google, and Microsoft in November asking for OS-level age verification... The most obvious question: Could this be brought stateside? Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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M5 Pro and M5 Max vs. M4 Pro and M4 Max: How big is the performance jump?
Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips promise big performance gains over the M4 generation. Here’s how the latest Apple silicon stacks up. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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This platform helps you pick stocks—and it’s now on sale
Macworld TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Sterling Stock Picker for just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code SAVE20 and simplify investing. Getting into the stock market can feel like walking into a room where everyone is already playing a game you don’t know the rules to. Charts, earnings reports, market trends—it’s a lot. Sterling Stock Picker can help, and it’s available for just $55.19 (regularly $486) through April 12. This platform is designed to make investing feel a whole lot less intimidating. Sterling Stock Picker uses AI-driven insights to surface opportunities that actually align with your goals and risk tolerance. One standout feature is Finley, a built-in AI financial coach. You can ask questions, analyze your portfolio, and get real-time guidance without needing a finance degree (or a friend who kind of knows stocks). It also includes a done-for-you portfolio builder that helps you create a diversified setup based on your preferences. Whether you’re just dipping your toe into investing or looking to sharpen your strategy, this tool keeps things simple, structured, and actually usable. Get a lifetime of Sterling Stock Picker access for just $55.19 (regularly $486) through April 12 with code SAVE20. Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Get the latest Microsoft Office for your Mac for under $100 – No Subscription
Macworld TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac is available for under $100 as a one-time purchase, giving you the latest Office apps without paying for Microsoft 365 every year. Mac users often assume that Microsoft Office means signing up for Microsoft 365 and paying a yearly fee just to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. That subscription can run $70 to $100 per year, which adds up. Bypass that yearly fee, and instead get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac (or PC) for under $100. You’ll save money in the long term while still getting the latest version of the apps you use every day. Office 2024 includes the core apps: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook OneNote This version also includes performance improvements and newer tools compared to older Office versions. Excel handles larger datasets more smoothly, PowerPoint now supports recording presentations with voice and video, and Word includes AI-assisted writing suggestions and focus mode for distraction-free writing. The interface has also been updated with Microsoft’s Fluent design system, making the apps feel more modern and consistent across Mac and PC. Real-time collaboration, commenting, and version history also make it easier to work on shared documents or projects. For Mac users who want Microsoft Office but don’t want another subscription, a lifetime license is often the cheaper option after just a year or two. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac is available now for $99.97 (MSRP $249.99) as a one-time purchase. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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MacOS 26.4 Adds Warnings For ClickFix Attacks to Its Terminal App
An anonymous Slashdot reader writes: ClickFix attacks are ramping up. These attacks have users copy and paste a string to something that can execute a command line — like the Windows Run dialog, or a shell prompt. But MacRumors reports that macOS 26.4 Tahoe (updated earlier this week) introduces a new feature to its Terminal app where it will detect ClickFix attempts and stop them by prompting the user if they really wanted to run those commands. According to MacRumors, the warning readers "Possible malware, Paste blocked." "Your Mac has not been harmed. Scammers often encourage pasting text into Terminal to try and harm your Mac or compromise your privacy...." There is also a "Paste Anyway" option if users still wish to proceed. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Security Bite: Apple takes aim at cybercriminals’ more desperate tactic to infect Mac users
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. With the release of macOS 26.4, Apple is now warning users who it believes are about to paste malicious code into Terminal. The prompt is the latest blow to cybercriminals’ newest and, honestly, more desperate attack vector of getting unsuspecting Mac users to infect themselves. more…

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BenQ MA monitors display colors to match your MacBook screen – and you can win one
One of the key features of MacBooks is the care Apple takes over color calibration. That’s great when you’re using your MacBook, but things can change as soon as you plug it into an external monitor, when you can see markedly different colors. That’s because most monitor companies don’t tune their colors in the same way Apple does. But BenQ does exactly that with its latest MA series monitors … more…

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Indie App Spotlight: ‘Yogi Breath’ is a guided breathing app that progresses with you
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. If you’re someone looking to add more meditation to your life, Yogi Breath could be the right fit. Yogi Breath is a guided breathwork app that moves at your pace – with a number of helpful features to keep you motivated. more…

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Apple has serious plans for Siri! [Cult of Mac podcast No. 13]
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New details emerge about a major upgrade that would transform Siri from a laughingstock to a legitimate AI assistant. Unfortunately, these plans sound mighty familiar. Still, we’re guardedly optimistic that Apple can pull it off this time. Also on the Cult of Mac podcast: Now we know […] (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Here’s what I’d like to see with the MacBook Air redesign, after seeing MacBook Neo
Apple unveiled the MacBook Neo earlier this month, and in my opinion – it completely breaks the MacBook lineup as we knew it. If you’re someone who previously bought a MacBook Air, and you don’t need 16GB of RAM for heavier multitasking – why wouldn’t you buy the MacBook Neo now? In my eyes, the MacBook Neo is just as good of a general purpose laptop as the MacBook Air was, and besides more RAM, a much faster processor (though still a thermally limited one), and a larger display, it doesn’t feel like MacBook Air has much going for it – at least for now. Here’s how I’d improve it. more…

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The rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 got a $300 price cut
Macworld Apple Watch Ultra 2 View Deal With the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on your wrist, you can go anywhere you want, and you’ll find your way back home, whether you’re hiking, mountain climbing, or just out for a stroll, as the watch will know your location at all times and show you the right map. Even better, with built-in cellular, you don’t even need to have your phone on you. While the $799 price tag isn’t bad for everything you get, you’ll love knowing that you can get the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $300 off during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event. That brings the price down to $499, a spectaculr savings and the best we’ve ever seen for an Ultra 2 that wasn’t refurbished. Back when this model came out, we reviewed it and gave it a 4-star rating, appreciating the bright screen, great operating system, and just how great it was for tracking sports and workouts. This model comes with 36 hours of battery life during normal use, so it’s going to be great during any outdoor trip you want This device comes with a ton of features, including accurate location tracking, advanced health metrics, custom workouts, as well as automated fall detection, emergency SOS, and vital sign monitoring. If anything happens, your watch has your back. There’s a newer model out, but other than better battery life and satellite connectivity, it’s not all that different than this one. And you won’t get it for anywhere near this cheap. So grab the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $499 before the spring sale ends.

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Here are the iOS 26.4 features to try after installing the new iPhone update
Macworld Apple has officially released iOS 26.4 to the public, and unlike the previous update, this one brings a more noticeable set of new features. While the long-awaited AI-powered Siri is still nowhere to be seen, iOS 26.4 brings several new features and improvements to Apple Music, Podcasts, and Reminders, as well as overall system enhancements and new emoji. Read on as we break down all the major new features and changes coming with iOS 26.4. Apple Music With iOS 26.4, Apple Music subscribers are getting an important new feature called Playlist Playground. Essentially, it lets users quickly create playlists using AI. Users can simply describe what they want to listen to, whether it’s specific songs, artists, or genres, and Apple’s AI will create a playlist based on that prompt. The feature can also edit existing playlists. It’s worth noting that this feature is available only in the U.S. and works on any iOS 26.4 iPhone, even ones that don’t support Apple Intelligence. Apple Music has new full-screen artwork in iOS 26.4.Foundry Apple Music is also getting a new Concerts feature, which helps users discover nearby shows from artists in their library, while also recommending live shows from new artists based on listening habits. Another notable addition is Offline Music Recognition, now available through Control Center. This lets users identify songs with Shazam even without an internet connection. The result shows up as soon as the device is back online. Rounding out the Apple Music changes, iOS 26.4 introduces an Ambient Music widget for quick access to curated playlists focused on Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing, as well as full-screen backgrounds for album and playlist pages, making the interface more immersive. Podcasts In addition to Apple Music, Apple Podcasts is also getting some improvements with iOS 26.4. More specifically, Apple has revamped the experience for video podcasts. The update introduces support for Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology, which automatically adjusts the video bitrate during playback. This means the app will always choose the best quality based on your internet connection without you having to change any settings. Thanks to this technology, users can also seamlessly switch between audio and video while playing a podcast. iOS 26.4 includes several new Accessiblity settings.Foundry Accessibility Updating to iOS 26.4 also brings some welcome accessibility improvements.  For instance, the system now includes a new “Reduce Bright Effects” toggle that minimizes intense flashes when interacting with certain interface elements. Apple has also made it easier to access and customize subtitles and captions directly from the media player interface. Moreover, the “Reduce Motion” setting has been improved to more consistently limit animations across the system, particularly with the Liquid Glass interface. Emoji For emoji fans, iOS 26.4 adds eight new characters to the keyboard. As previously announced, they include an orca, a trombone, a landslide, a ballet dancer, and a distorted face emoji. Keep in mind that only people who have also updated their devices will see the new emojis in conversations or social media posts. You can use several new emojis once you update to iOS 26.4.Foundry Freeform When Apple announced the Creator Studio subscription, the company revealed that the Freeform app would also gain certain features exclusive to subscribers. These features are now available with iOS 26.4. Creator Studio subscribers can now access the Content Hub right from Freeform, which offers a wide variety of photos, illustrations, and graphics that can be used royalty-free. Users will also notice a new icon for the Freeform app that matches the style of other Creator Studio apps. Urgent reminders are getting an upgrade in iOS 26.4.Foundry Urgent reminders With iOS 26.2, Apple introduced a new option for creating urgent reminders, which show up as full-screen alerts at the scheduled date and time. Now, iOS 26.4 makes it easier to mark a reminder as urgent. Users can mark tasks as urgent in the Reminders app right from the Quick Toolbar or with a long press. Urgent reminders can also be filtered using Smart Lists. Family Sharing Apple is also making a major change for users who rely on Family Sharing. While the entire family currently relies on a single payment method, iOS 26.4 will allow each family member to pay for their own online purchases. “Purchase Sharing lets adult members in Family Sharing groups use their own payment method when making purchases, without relying on the family organizer,” Apple explained in the release notes. This is certainly great news for those who use Family Sharing to share their iCloud and App Store purchases. The Freeform app got its Creator Studio update in iOS 26.4.Foundry Keyboard accuracy As we reported last year, many iPhone users had been complaining that iOS 26 had reduced the accuracy of the on-screen keyboard, resulting in more typos. Although Apple never acknowledged the issue at the time, it has made changes to the iOS 26.4 keyboard that essentially admit there was a problem. The iOS 26.4 release notes mention “improved keyboard accuracy when typing quickly” as part of the changes included in the update. It’s unclear exactly what Apple changed to improve the virtual keyboard, but users will certainly be pleased that Apple is working on the issue. Age verification One of the most notable changes in iOS 26.4 is related to compliance with local laws. The update introduces age verification requirements in multiple regions, including Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and specific U.S. states such as Utah and Louisiana. These measures are tied to regional legislation and are designed to ensure that users meet minimum age requirements for certain features and services. In these locations, Apple may require additional information about the user to verify their age. This includes details such as how long the Apple Account has been active or credit card information. The company has also created a new API that will anonymously inform apps whether a user meets the minimum age requirements without sharing their age, date of birth, or any other personal information. Update your iPhone now In addition to all these new features, iOS 26.4 also includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and enhanced security. That’s why it’s always important to keep your devices updated with the latest software. You can install iOS 26.4 by going to Settings > General > Software Update and tapping Update Now. The update is available for the iPhone 11 and later.

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