Deals: 24GB M5 MacBook Pro $125 off, AirPods Pro 2 $103 off, Apple Watch Solo Loops from $5, more
Your Friday edition of 9to5Toys Lunch Break is now live and ready to roll. Today’s deals join the ongoing all-time lows on the M4 MacBook Air lineup at $250 off and start off with the most affordable 24GB M5 MacBook Pro at the lowest price we have tracked to date with over $125 in savings. Those offers sit alongside AirPods Pro 2 down at one of the lowest prices we have seen at over $100 off, alongside official Apple Watch Solo Loops from $5, the Bose holiday sale, and exclusive sitewide offer on Harber London’s gorgeous leather tech bags and folios. Scope it all out below.  more…

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Grab Apple's M4 Mac mini 512GB for just $689.99 today
Amazon is kicking off the weekend early with a $110 price cut on Apple's latest Mac mini with a bump up to 512GB of storage.Save $110 on a popular M4 Mac mini configuration at Amazon.M4 Mac mini prices start at just $499, but an especially attractive option is the upgraded model with 512GB of storage that's on sale for $689.99. This discounted price reflects a $110 discount off MSRP.Buy for $689.99 at Amazon Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 26.1 lets you close Activity rings even if you forget to start a workout
iOS 26.1 launched this week, and one of its new features lets you manually log workouts in the Fitness app. That’s means if you forget to start a workout on your Apple Watch, you can now still close your Activity rings and get the credit you deserve. more…

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Apple TV's 'La Decision' turns a presidential scandal into a political thriller
Apple TV's latest French thriller, "La Decision", throws the president of France into a political and personal nightmare after his secret daughter is kidnapped.Diane Kruger & Raphael Personnaz | Image credit: Apple TVOn Thursday, Apple TV announced "La Decision," a new French-language political thriller. The seven-episode series will star Cesar Award nominee Raphael Personnaz and SAG Award winner Diane Kruger.When an eight-year-old is kidnapped, the French president's world is thrown into chaos. The child is his illegitimate daughter, unbeknownst to his wife and political advisor. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The Apple Watch Series 11 Is $49 Off
Amazon has the Apple Watch Series 11 marked 6% off. The smartwatch can give you insight into your health giving you notifications if you have a low or high heart rate or irregular rhythm. It can detect sleep apnea, blood oxygen readings and health metrics through the night. The watch is the perfect  fitness partner, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Stand One by Nomad Now Has Qi2 Support
The Stand One Max and Stand One have been upgraded by Nomad, adding support for Qi2. Qi2 enables charging for up to 25W on eligible iPhones, matching Apple’s latest MagSafe chargers that have a 25W output. The Stand One can charge an iPhone on its charging surface at up to 25W and charge AirPods on […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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3% Daily Cash Back Offered by Hertz
Transactions with the Apple card that are done through the Hertz.com site or Hertz app are now qualified for a Daily Cash back of 3%. Daily Cash bonus ican be earned when you book a rental car in the United States at Hertz corporate areas through their website and app. They also offer users of […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Mac Studio Getting M5 Ultra Chip Next Year
All the Apple silicon chips don’t have an Ultra variant, but Apple is planning to premiere an M5 Ultra next year. The Mac Studio is anticipated to get an M5 Ultra chip and it is possible that Apple will integrate it in an update for the Mac Pro. The M5 chip has already been premiered […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Why Apple Music needs a free ad-supported tier
Apple Music stands alone in the major music streaming landscape by offering no free, ad-supported tier, requiring users to subscribe from… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iOS 26.1 expands Music app’s latest feature with AirPlay upgrade
iOS 26 gave Apple Music a bunch of great new features, including the DJ-like AutoMix effect for song transitions. Now with iOS 26.1’s launch earlier this week, AutoMix has expanded to even work over AirPlay. more…

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iPhone 18 rumors: Key display upgrades, design changes, and more
A new report from Weibo user highlights Apple’s continued work on refining the screen technology for the iPhone 18 Pro. According to the rumor, Apple is testing a new way to reduce the size of the display cutout needed for the front-facing camera. more…

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AirPods and Bluetooth speaker fighting? iOS 26.1 makes peace.
Make a quick tweak to the settings on your iPhone, and a Bluetooth speaker will never again steal the audio from your AirPods. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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M5 13-inch iPad Pro review — minute improvements, but so what?
The new M5 13-inch iPad Pro is not revolutionary and it's barely even evolutionary, but it's still exceptional — and it's still the greatest iPad ever.It is impossible that something this thin can do everything it's supposed to. You're being lied to, clearly — image credit: Andrew O'HaraEvolutionary and revolutionary are about what Apple brings to a new version of a device. But they are also about what you want it for — and most especially what you are coming from before.So if you are on an M4 13-inch iPad Pro, there is nothing for you here. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This DIY smartwatch is the perfect gift for a teen or techie
Clockstar 2.0 — a hands-on STEM kit that combines learning, creativity and wearable tech for anyone who loves to tinker. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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New Siri rumor could give Apple and users exactly what they need
Siri’s delayed AI upgrades are still expected to ship next spring in iOS 26.4, and a new report this week about Google’s tech powering the features might be exactly what Apple and its users need. more…

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Today in Apple history: Newton MessagePad makes its last stand
On November 7, 1997, Apple released the Newton MessagePad 2100, a PDA that became the final iteration of the line of early handheld devices. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple’s website lists AirTag 4-pack for $29 in likely pricing error
As first spotted by our friends at 9to5Toys, Apple’s website currently has a wild “deal” on AirTags: a 4-pack for $29 (down from $99). Unfortunately, this is almost certainly a bizarre pricing mistake… more…

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Bummer: Apple (mostly) decreases trade-in values across products
Getting money for your old gear makes new buys easier, but Apple just cut trade-in values across the board. Many cuts are minimal, though. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Take great surround sound on the go with Treblab’s killer speaker [Review] ★★★★☆
Our hands-on TrebLab HD-360 Pro speaker review finds it brings big sound for either home or outdoor use -- unlike Apple's great HomePod 2. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade services restored after brief outage
Apple's streaming services, including Apple TV, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade, were restored for U.S. users after a brief outage late… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple TV suffers embarrassing outage as ‘Pluribus’ launches
Macworld After months of buildup and an omnipresent advertising campaign, Apple’s much-anticipated new show Pluribus made its debut on the company’s TV streaming service Thursday night. And the service promptly suffered a major outage across the U.S. and Canada. As reported by Bloomberg and others, users started to report that the service had crashed at around 10:30 p.m. ET, shortly after Apple made the first two episodes of the show available to stream. There were almost 13,000 reports on Downdetector before Apple acknowledged the problem on its System Status page. Reports say the outage was brief, lasting less than an hour. At the time of writing, that page has returned to all green. But there remains a Resolved Outage note on Apple TV (simply saying “Some users were affected; users experienced a problem with Apple TV” between 10:29 and 11.38 p.m.), as well as on Apple Music and Apple Arcade, which also went down at the same time. Social media reports indicated that the outage was widespread. Pluribus is the work of Vince Gilligan, who created Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and stars Rhea Seehorn from the latter show. It’s one of the highest-profile offerings to appear on Apple TV, so this outage couldn’t have come at a worse time. It isn’t clear what went wrong on a technical level, though it’s possible Apple’s servers simply weren’t ready for the level of demand.

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Update your HomePod smart speaker with the latest software
Version 26.1 is out, so it's time to check your HomePod Software update status. Here’s how to ensure your smart speaker is up to date. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple Vision Pro, iOS 26, and Google isn't saving Siri, on the AppleInsider Podcast
In the week we've had the iOS 26.1 update, it's time to look forward to iOS 26.2, plus the review is in for the M5 Apple Vision Pro, and it's claimed that Apple is replacing Siri with Google Gemini, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.A real-life glass Apple TV logo being cleaned for filming — image credit: AdWeekDepending on who you listen to, and how carefully they phrase their clickbait headlines, you could have believed this week that Siri is gone. And that Google Gemini is in.Given that neither Apple nor Google are saying a word, anything goes — except there are reasons to know that this just not true. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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∞ The Dalrymple Report: Apple fiscal report, CarPlay, and Gemini
Apple last week reported its fiscal fourth quarter, so Dave and I take a quick look at numbers and see where the revenue is coming from. We also talk about the reasons GM is ending support for CarPlay and Android Auto for future cars and reports that the next version of Siri will be powered by Google's Gemini. Follow this podcast Brought to you by: CleanMyMac: Get Tidy Today! Try 7 days free and use my code DALRYMPLE for 20% off at clnmy.com/DALRYMPLE Show Notes: World Series Apple reports fourth quarter results Enjoy CarPlay while you still can CarPlay Seems Essential for Rental Fleets Canva buys Affinity, Adobe should be worried Siri and Gemini Shows and movies we're watching The Asset, Netflix A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs Mr. Scorsese

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Anker’s Prime Wireless Car Charger review: Fastest-ever in-car wireless iPhone charging
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 25W for iPhone 16 and 17 15W for older iPhones Adjustable design Secure magnet Cons 25W only for iPhone 16 and 17 Expensive Incompatible with Tesla or Mercedes Our Verdict If in-car charging speed is of vital importance to you, the 25W Anker Prime is the fastest wireless car charger for iPhones that you’ll find. It’s sturdy in position with neat cable holders keeping your car tidy, and a dual-port USB charger is included. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$89.99 Best Prices Today: Anker Prime 25W Wireless Car Charger (MagGo, AirCool, Pad) Retailer Price $63.99 View Deal Anker $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Unless you’re on a long trip the chances are that most of your car journeys are relatively short and often hurried affairs: the school run, a dash to the shops, an office commute. As such the time you have in the car for charging your phone is likely brief—therefore the faster the charger, the more juice you can squeeze into your phone, ready for the next charger-less stage of the day. Of course, you should have charged your phone before you got in your car, right, but sadly the everyday got in the way and now you need as many percentage points of battery life as you can get into your iPhone before it’s back in your pocket. Speed means power The fastest magnetic wireless iPhone car charger available right now is the Anker Prime Wireless Car Charger that utilizes the latest Qi 2.2 wireless charging standard to reach the top 25W output. Read: Which wireless technology is best for your iPhone. That compares to 15W for certified wireless MagSafe and Qi2 chargers and a mere 7.5W for “MagSafe Compatible” chargers. 25W should in practice get your iPhone up to a 50% charge in just over half an hour, compared to 45 minutes for 15W, and well over an hour for the older and cheaper chargers at 7.5W. The new 25W wireless chargers put out so much energy that maintaining power output requires dedicated active cooling. The Anker Prime uses the fancy sounding Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) system to keep your iPhone below 95°F (35°C) while charging. Grills circle the top of the charging pad. Lower temperatures help protect your battery and reduce long-term wear. 25W wireless charging works with only the iPhone 16 and later; older iPhones can use the same charger but at a more limited 15W of power. Anker claims that even 15W-only (iPhone 15 and older) phones charge cooler and more efficiently with the charger’s TEC system. Simon Jary Design The design of the Anker Prime Car Charger isn’t wildly different to the slower alternatives. It’s compact at 3.66 x 2.36 x 3.46 inches (9.3 x 6 x 8.8cm) and the charging pad is plenty big enough to be attached magnetically. A ball joint holder’s tail hook clips onto an air vent—you spin the body to determine how much of the clip you need protruding—and can be angled at a 32-degree adjustable tilt. The pad can be horizontally rotated 360 degrees. Note that the Anker Prime is not compatible with Tesla or Mercedes-Benz vehicles, or with cars that lack vent blades or use nonstandard vent designs, such as round air vents. The first car we tried it in was a Mini and the placement of the vents doesn’t allow for a car charger such as this one—indeed you’ll need a separate mount for some cars. Compatible vent blade depths must be between 10 mm and 24 mm for optimal grip. See image below for more on vent compatibility. Anker The USB-C port is placed at the base of the unit. Here you connect the included 3.3-foot (1m) cable, which itself is powered by the 45W dual-port charger that plugs into the power outlet (aka cigarette lighter port) in the car. The other port is legacy USB-A that can output at 12W. Handily, the cable comes with an organizer and holders to keep your driving space tidy from stray cables. You’ll have to tidy up your hurried snack wrappers and kids’ coloring books yourself. The 13N magnet does a good job of keeping the device secure while still being able to remove it at the end of your drive without ripping the holder out of the vent. To ensure you have the charging properly set, the charger’s ambient light turns on for 30 seconds at power-on and remains continuously lit during charging.Anker Price The Anker Prime Wireless Car Charger is priced at $89.99 / £79.99, which puts it at the high-end of the many wireless car chargers on the market, but remember that it’s by far the fastest, and the package includes the power outlet charger and cable. Anker Should I buy the Anker Prime 25W Wireless Car Charger If in-car charging speed is of vital importance to you, the 25W Anker Prime is the fastest wireless car charger for iPhones that you’ll find. It’s sturdy and neat and tidy with cable holders included, and a powerful dual-port USB charger along for the ride too.

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Apple's long game will result in a safe, secure, and ethical AI ecosystem
Despite recent headlines screaming that Apple is behind, or caving in, Siri won't be "powered" by Gemini, ChatGPT, or anything other than safe and secure Apple Foundation Models. Here's what's actually happening behind the inflammatory headlines.Apple Intelligence is about to get a big upgradeIt might be tempting to assume Apple has lost its way, chased off all of its talent, and has been left scrambling for AI solutions, especially if you read the headlines. If you've been following AppleInsider, then you're more prepared for what is actually happening at Apple and what is coming in the spring with the Siri LLM relaunch.The tech world and its investors went wild when artificial intelligence entered the scene. We were promised revolutionary technology that was only previously dreamed of in sci-fi — stuff capable of curing cancer or ending human civilization as we know it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Moonlock review: We put MacPaw’s new antivirus suite to work
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Excellent viral and malware protection and detection Good purchase options Access to learning tools and YouTube links Cons Security Advisor module lacks functionality Menus don’t offer enough clarity sScan scheduler only allowing for 15-minute increments VPN auto-connects to the closest server Our Verdict Moonlock isn’t perfect, and the user interface and menu systems could use a bit of an overhaul, but what’s present in terms of malware detection and removal, backed by some good learning tools, makes it a viable option for Mac users who want good protection with minimal fuss. This, combined with improved purchase options and a 7-day free trial, makes it worth your Consideration. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed1 Mac: $54 per year; $13.50 a month; $150 one time payment (licences for more Macs available) Best Prices Today: MacPaw Moonlock Retailer Price MacPaw (annual) $45 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Ukrainian developer MacPaw has had an interesting progression over the years in the Mac utility market. Best known for CleanMyMac, it first expanded that to include antiviral/anti-malware protection to provide an overall system cleanup utility. Now MacPaw has spun off its antiviral/anti-malware elements into Moonlock, a new product focusing on protecting Mac users from malware and the other dangers of being online. Like its CleanMyMac incarnations, Moonlock, which requires macOS 13 (Ventura) or later to install and run, is centered around a stylish user interface and is easy to download and set up, the installer asking for full disk access permission as part of the process. The software is divided into several modules (Home, Malware Scanner, VPN, Network Inspector, System Protection, and Security Advisor), each with its own customizable elements. Straight from the get-go, Moonlock functions both as an instructional tool as well as a utility, the Home module offering quick access to the suite’s assorted tools while also providing YouTube links to explain potential vulnerabilities such as malware, typosquatting, secure email, email encryption, secure passwords, and the types of malware that can be used to take advantage of a user. A vertical column down the left side of the window offers one-click access to the other modules as well. As expected, the Malware Scanner module functions as Moonlock’s core utility, the tool offering three scan types (Quick Scan, Balanced Scan, and Deep Scan), the modes trading scanning speed for in-depth analysis of what might be on your Mac’s internal hard drives or external volumes. The Moonlock scanner found and blocked several threats.Foundry Although not well-explained in the menus, the Deep Scan can scan external volumes, and it’s easy to perform functions such as creating whitelists of files to avoid scanning, scheduling a scan, scanning .zip and .dmg files, and setting up active protection against potential malware. Where the scanning itself is concerned, the results are impressive, and Moonlock’s antiviral/anti-malware approach caught just about everything that was thrown at it from the sample library. The application was able to perform a Deep Scan of my MacBook Pro’s solid-state drive and an external USB volume in about an hour, and with Active Protection on, it was able to detect and delete malware before I could attempt to install it. While Moonlock was able to block just about everything and combined well with macOS’ Gatekeeper and Xprotect system functions, there were occasions where malware could have been installed, provided you bypassed several warning screens to allow the function to run. Moonlock also includes a VPN feature, which, though not as robust as a dedicated client, is capable, even if it automatically connects to the closest access point as opposed to opting for geolocation and letting you pick the country your masked IP address is coming from. Even so, the client is brisk, speedy, and it’s easy enough to disconnect and pick your preferred country of origin as needed. The Network Inspector module caught me a bit off guard in that it allows you to choose regions and countries to block internet traffic from, as opposed to scanning your local network and pointing out potential weak points and vulnerabilities. I’ve never seen this approach before, and it of course makes sense from a defensive posture, as well as the fact that MacPaw, a Ukrainian developer, is now in its third year of a war against Russia, and preventing hacking from outside nations and regions makes sense to them. Block regions know for hacking.Foundry The System Protection module proved interesting in that it quickly scans your Mac’s operating system, determines where you might be vulnerable, and then opens up a list of advice and shortcuts as to how to take steps to use your Mac and prevent intrusion more effectively. The steps range from turning off your Mac’s display when the computer is inactive to turning on macOS’ Gatekeeper feature to improving your Wi-Fi protection, to turning off automatic Bluetooth connections, and offer quick links to the Settings panes to make these changes. Moonlock’s Security Advisor module is as it’s name suggests an advisor and not a tool. Case in point, the module functions as a billboard of warnings and steps to take to prevent intrusion, as opposed to tools to effect these changes. Yes, it’s good to learn what to do, but this felt as if I’d wandered into an advice column and not a significant module of a commercial piece of software. The Security Advisor advises.Foundry While Moonlock has a lot going for it, there are still some bugs to iron out, and a lot of it comes from the overly flashy user interface elements, which MacPaw is known for. The Malware Scanner module is impressive, but you have to dig through various menus to see the volume and folder where the malware infection that was caught and quarantined was located. This is also the same module that could use an estimated time remaining countdown timer for its tasks, which would be appreciated. The scheduler function, though reliable, only allows you to schedule scans every 15 minutes, a more customizable schedule would be welcome. It would be nice to have a little more customization.Foundry Finally, it feels as if the menus don’t explain each module’s functions as well as they could. It took a little trial and error to determine that the Deep Scan scanning mode could address an external volume as opposed to an easier user interface to point this out or a handy guide tip that suggested dragging and dropping the external volume to initiate a scan. What’s present in Moonlock is good, if a bit rough around the edges, and the Moonlock antiviral/anti-malware engine doesn’t miss a beat, but MacPaw needs to sort out its menus and remember that flashy animations driven by a talented graphics department don’t replace explanatory ease of use. Still, it’s nice to see the company spin Moonlock off into its own thing as opposed to heaping more features onto CleanMyMac. Outside of the fact that the menu system could be a bit more transparent to the user, and the Security Advisor module feels more like a PSA than a toolset, there’s something good here, and it’s worth considering. Moonlock is available in subscription-based monthly, annual, or one-time payments. A 7-day free trial is also available, although you’ll have to send along your payment information, which will be charged at the end of the trial period if you don’t cancel in time. Should you buy Moonlock from MacPaw? MacPaw offers a strong antiviral/anti-malware candidate with Moonlock to the point that its malware detection engine performs exceptionally well, and the Active Protection feature was able to stop some threats before they could be installed and executed. The inclusion of instructional resources makes an effort to teach less-technical users as to why certain security settings matter, and the additional purchase options, such as one-time purchasing, are a nice addition. Moonlock did a good job detecting and quarantining malware.Foundry Moonlock does feel like a 1.0 release in spots. The Security Advisor module functions more as an informational PSA than an actual toolset, and it feels as if certain options and details are buried under a plethora of flashy menus. Still, there’s a 7-day free trial that’s worth your time and we recommend giving it a spin.

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What Mac owners need to know about buying Network Attached Storage
Adding storage to your home network will give you more than just a place to keep your Mac backups. Here's what to know when buying network-attached storage.NAS buyers guide: Buying a NAS can be very helpful for your storage needs.Apple device users will be very aware of storage costs for their hardware. Configuring more storage on an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac costs quite a lot, and it's something you can't directly upgrade in the future.External drives are certainly one answer. If an entire family is involved, or there are lots of devices needing access to that data, getting network-attached storage (NAS) is probably the better idea. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone 18 Pro to get smaller hole punch for selfie and Face ID camera
Previous claims of an under-display Face ID and camera for the iPhone 18 Pro have been scaled back, suggesting now that the 2026 flagship iPhone may only have a smaller display hole.The Digital Island could shrink considerably for the iPhone 18Regular and reasonably — if sporadically — accurate leaker Digital Chat Station has once more claimed to have reports about the display on the iPhone 18 Pro. Previously he or she has maintained that the current Dynamic Island will go, and be replaced by an under-display camera and Face ID system.Now, writing on the Chinese social media site Weibo, Digital Chat Station says that Apple is considering a smaller hole-in-active-area (HIAA). This is a precision-drilled hole in the display, used to give the camera an unobstructed field of view. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s $1B Google AI deal will be great for iPhone users. Until it’s not
Macworld The news of Apple’s pending deal with Google says a lot. While neither Apple nor Google will likely ever publicly acknowledge it outside of necessary financial disclosures, Apple fans should take note. It’s a very good thing for users. And also very concerning. We should be equally pleased and worried. The Deal The deal, as it has been reported (Apple has not officially acknowledged it) will see Apple paying Google about $1B a year to use a customized version of its Gemini AI model for the new Siri, which should be released to users in the spring. The model is big and advanced, with a reported 1.2 trillion parameters, and will run on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute servers so neither Google nor anyone else gets to scoop up your data. The partnership seemingly was struck after Apple evaluated Google’s AI, along with others from Anthropic and OpenAI, against its own internally developed LLM technology. What it means for users As a user, this is all pretty good news. The latest versions of Gemini are among the top LLMs in the industry—benchmarks vary, and Apple’s version might not be the same as Gemini 2.5 Pro, but it’s clear that Apple isn’t going with a second-rate model here. Of course, talking to the new Siri won’t be just like talking to Google’s Gemini. For one, the voices will sound different, but they’ll also have different priorities and tuning, and Siri will have access to the private data stored on your phone. You could think of it as two completely different cars that have the same engine but different options and chassis. Apple will use Gemini’s LLM as a foundation for the new Siri, but the two assistants wil still be very different.Foundry The fact that Apple was willing to break out the checkbook to use a core technology from another company for one of its most important (and oft-maligned) features speaks volumes to a change of mindset in Cupertino. When Apple needs new core technology, it usually builds it or buys a company that already has (often both). That Apple is willing to step away from its homegrown mentality to deliver a new Siri that doesn’t disappoint is worthy of applause. Not Invented Here But Apple fans should also be wary. I’m generally critical of Apple’s “Not Invented Here” ethos, where it seemingly needs to own or build everything, whether it’s good for its users or not. There are lots of examples of that working out well—it took a long time, but Apple’s cellular modems and N1 networking chips give an experience at last as good as the Qualcomm and Broadcom stuff did—, but there instances where Apple’s stubbon reliance on in-house tech didn’t make sense. For example, when OpenGL outlived its usefulness as a graphics API, Apple could have moved to the open Vulkan standard that replaced it, helping shape its future. Instead, it developed its own graphics API, Metal, and I’m not convinced that it was better for developers or users. I don’t think Apple needed its own lossless audio format. Perhaps most notably, Google pays Apple some $20 billion a year for Google to be the default search engine for Safari. And yes, there are other search engine options, but we all know almost nobody strays from the default, which is why it’s worth so much to Google. The Apple Maps rollout was bumpy at best.Apple Inc That hasn’t been good for users. Google has been steadily degrading its search results experience while using the data from all those searches to consolidate its control over search and web advertising. If there’s anything Apple should have invested years ago, it is building its own privacy-minded, ad-free web search. And we all know about the Apple Maps fiasco. The company’s attempt to stop relying on a third-party mapping service resulted in a terrible product, ironically because that product was built with a mishmash of data that it didn’t own or control. It took years for Apple to build a Maps experience using all its own data, and now that it has, the experience is top-tier. Apple needs its own LLM So it’s clear that some core technologies Apple needs to build for itself and have total control over, while others it can and probably should find outside solutions for. A foundation AI large language model is definitely in the former category. As the years roll on, AI models are going to be part of so much more than chatbots. AI models are all over Apple’s products, from cameras recognizing your gestures to image editing to notification summaries and more. But the big foundational LLM that interacts with users and does everything from controlling our devices to gathering information about the world, that’s the most important AI model in the stack. Apple having its own top-tier LLM is as important as Apple controlling any other major piece of its technology stack. It’s arguably going to be more important than Apple having its own web browser. It’s great news that Apple recognized that its own internally developed LLM isn’t good enough right now, and is willing to go to Google to solve the problem. But in the end, Apple desperately needs to catch up or surpass the technology it is buying. And it’s not clear if it has the ability to do that, as competitors’ LLMs continue to improve and Apple seemingly loses AI talent every week. As a user, you should be glad about the Apple-Google-Gemini-Siri AI deal. As long as it doesn’t last.

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