The global RAM and SSD shortage crisis, explained
A global shortage is responsible for every electronics and computer manufacturer in the world — including Apple — paying twice as much for RAM and flash storage as it did in 2025, and 10 times more than it paid in 2020. Here's why there is little hope of that improving anytime soon.Memory is in short supply globally — Image credit: SK HynixApple has historically been able to closely control the cost of its components. Buying in huge numbers, from multiple suppliers has historically given an economy of scale that made Apple a sought-after customer for everything from display makers to storage vendors.But that dynamic has changed. A global shortage of key components like memory and storage has seen the price of both skyrocket. Apple is far from the only company impacted. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 26.4 gives Reminders’ best new feature the one thing it was missing
Apple’s Reminders app recently got my favorite new feature in a long time: ‘Urgent’ reminders. And in iOS 26.4, the feature’s getting upgraded with the one thing it was missing: a dedicated smart list. more…

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∞ The Dalrymple Report: Mac mini, touchscreen MacBook, Steve Jobs
Apple has reportedly ramped up production of the Mac mini in the U.S. The powerful Mac mini has become a favorite among many users over the years, including for use in AI in recent years. Another Mac in the news is the MacBook. Besides having a rumored touchscreen display, new MacBooks could also feature a 5G modem, allowing users to connect to the internet without having to to share a connection on their iPhone. Dave and I talk a little about Steve Jobs' birthday and the celebration that was done on the Steve Jobs Archive. Follow this podcast Show Notes: Apple accelerates U.S. manufacturing with Mac mini production Apple’s next Macs will finally check every box Steve Jobs Archive celebrates Steve’s birthday Shows and movies we're watching The Night Of, HBO Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association, Amazon The Night Manager, Amazon

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Get Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air M4 for $1,049 with this weekend deal
Apple's current 15-inch MacBook Air equipped with the M4 chip has dropped to $1,049 as Amazon competes for your business this weekend.Grab weekend deals on Apple's M4 MacBook Air.The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air features a 10-core GPU, with the standard model also equipped with 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. Amazon is discounting the standard spec to $1,049, representing a 13% markdown off MSRP.Buy 15" MacBook Air for $1,049 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Deals: AirPods Pro 3 nearly $100 off (open-box, 1-yr. warranty), M3 iPad Air $250 off, M5 iPad Pro, more
It’s all about Pokémon Day 2026 over at 9to5Toys today, but our Lunch Break deals are still ready to go with some solid deals on Apple gear and accessories. Firstly, we spotted a notable chance to score AirPods Pro 3 at nearly $100 off today in “excellent” open-box condition (if you’re fast) alongside up to $200 off M5 iPad Pro configs and a chance to land a particularly deep $250 price drop on this 1TB M3 iPad Air model as stock begins to disappear at Amazon. All of that and more awaits below.  more…

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Studio Display Pro rumors resurface after code references suggest a premium model
Code fragments found in the latest iOS 24.6 beta are being taken by some to mean that there will soon be two new models of the Studio Display, with one adding more ports and better speakers.Apple's current Studio Display, which has not been updated since its launch in 2022Back in 2022 when the Apple Studio Display was first launched, it was seen as very good but very expensive. The monitor has not been updated since, but from practically the moment it was launched, there have been rumors of better versions to come.Now according to Macworld, references in the code of the iOS 26 developer betas appear to be proof an update is finally coming. The references are to models with code names J427 and J527, which is a strong sign that there will be two versions of the display. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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New iPads are launching next week, here’s what’s coming
Tim Cook has confirmed it: Apple has new hardware being unveiled next week, starting Monday morning. Among the many products rumored to launch, two are new iPads: a base iPad with A18 and an M4 iPad Air. Here’s what to expect. more…

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ChatGPT approaching 1 billion weekly active users
OpenAI is well on its way to reporting 1 billion weekly active ChatGPT users. The company today claims 900 million weekly active users, a 350% increase since just 18 months ago. more…

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Godzilla and Kong battle Titan X in Monarch season 2
Godzilla, Kong and a mystery new kaiju star in “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” season 2. Streaming now on Apple TV! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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New Studio Display may have higher-end model with these upgrades, per leak
Rumors indicate Apple has two new Studio Display models in the works, launching as soon as next week. Here’s what leaked Apple code says the higher-end model might include. more…

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New standard makes more smart locks work seamlessly with iPhone
Connectivity Standards Alliance says the new Aliro smart lock standard will ensure a variety of smart locks work well with plenty of 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 A18 Pro chip expected to make new entry-level MacBook feel premium and future-proof
Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a new, more affordable MacBook model in the coming days, marking a significant shift in its… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Budget MacBook: How cheap is cheap?
The success or failure of the budget MacBook hangs heavily on its price. So what will it cost? Here's what we know. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Spotify pushing further into books with Audiobook Charts discovery feature
Spotify is continuing its push into the world of books with a new Audiobook Charts discovery feature. The feature is available to explore starting today in the United States and United Kingdom for free and paid Spotify users. more…

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Today in Apple history: Apple bids farewell to the Newton
On February 27, 1998, Apple announced that it would discontinue work on the Newton MessagePad product line and Newton OS. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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How to downgrade from macOS 26 Tahoe on a new Mac
Most new Macs can still be downgraded with few downsides. Here's what to know.

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Rescue old logos and other artwork with Super Vectorizer Pro, just $19.99
Convert old images into clean vector graphics with Super Vectorizer Pro, now $19.99. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple TV adds new ‘Drive to Survive’ season, all episodes available
Netflix’s popular ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’ docuseries premiered its latest season today, and Apple TV subscribers in the US have access to the full season too thanks to a deal announced yesterday. more…

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Netflix bows out: Paramount Skydance secures Warner Bros. Discovery in $111 billion deal, eyes CNN overhaul
Netflix has withdrawn from its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing the path for Paramount Skydance to take control of the media… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple releases new Immersive Video in ‘Elevated’ series for Apple Vision Pro
Apple has released the third episode of Elevated, its original Immersive Video series for Apple Vision Pro. The latest entry offers viewers an otherwise impossible view of Switzerland from the air: more…

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This loaded M3 iPad Air is under $1,000 right now ($250 off)
Macworld If you’re in the market for a new tablet, you can’t go wrong with the iPad Air. It’s got a 13-inch display, gorgeous design, excellent battery life, 5G, and a speed M3 processor—and today you can get one for $250 off at Amazon. That brings the price all the way down to $1,000, within a few dollars of its brief Black Friday blowout deal. While we do appreciate all Apple tablets, we can’t help but absolutely love this one. When we reviewed it, we gave this iPad Air a 4-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating its outstanding performance, the good display, and the great battery life. Powered by the M3 chip, this tablet delivers great power for creative projects, all the apps you need to juggle, and the games you need to play. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display looks absolutely gorgeous in all lighting situations, so you shouldn’t be worried about whether you’ll see anything when you’re using it outdoors in the summer. The 512GB of storage space will definitely make it possible to store quite a few apps and pics, and you can add a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro ($35 off) to fully deck it out. There’s a new model on the way, but we don’t expect it to be much different other than a new chip. So don’t waste any time and get the 13-inch M3 iPad Air for $1,000 while this deal’s still live at Amazon. Buy now at Amazon

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A smartphone storm is coming, but Apple already built a shelter
Macworld It’s common knowledge that the smartphone market is not in a good place right now. But new research has revealed the unprecedented severity of the problem, the likely timeframe before things get better, and the one company that’s best placed to survive the ordeal. Spoiler: it’s Apple. According to analysts at IDC (via Bloomberg), the global memory shortage will cause the smartphone market to shrink by 12.9% in 2026. That’s a shortfall of roughly 160 million units that were sold last year and won’t be sold this year, a situation the research firm characterised as “a crisis like no other.” And most of the impact will be felt by companies making cheap Android handsets. The problem is related to AI, which is sucking up resources that would otherwise be available for phone manufacturers and causing prices for memory to spike. Budget phones have very slim profit margins, so their makers are unable to absorb the cost increases; instead they have to compromise on component choices or put up their prices. And the market is so competitive, and price such a high priority for customers in that space, that this inevitably results in lower sales. “The tariffs and pandemic crisis seem a joke compared to this,” said Nabila Popal, senior research director at IDC. “The smartphone market will witness a seismic shift by the time this crisis is over, in size, average selling prices and competitive landscape.” Popal added that the situation is unlikely to improve until mid-2027, at the earliest. And even then, things won’t go back to the way they were. “The days of cheap smartphones are gone, as even when the crisis is over, we don’t expect memory prices to go back down to 2025 levels,” she explained. It’s fortunate for Apple, then, that it got out of the budget smartphone market at what increasingly looks to have been the perfect time. Until last spring, the company sold a single cheap phone, the $429 iPhone SE, alongside its premium iPhone 16, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max models. But it replaced this with the $599 iPhone 16e and has never looked back. (In terms of intent, at least. It’s debatable whether the 16e has matched the popularity of the SE handsets.) In a matter of days, we expect the company to launch the iPhone 17e at a similar price point. Apple and its iPhone range, which ranges from the mid-market to the premium end (and with the launch of the iPhone Fold, is expected to enter the extreme premium market) is therefore better placed than most to weather the storm. But it isn’t immune, as the company itself has acknowledged. In its most recent earnings report, Tim Cook said RAM price increases did not affect Apple in Q1 2026, but admitted the company is now “in a supply chase mode,” and experiencing supply constraints like the rest of the industry.

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Blender for iPad development on hold after prioritizing Android tablets
Last summer, the team behind the open-source 3D creation software Blender made news after confirming iPad Pro support was planned. Seven months later, however, the project appears to be on hold as an Android tablet version takes priority. more…

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Apple says it has “a big week ahead.” Here's what we expect to see.
Apple is taking an "ain't broke/don't fix" approach to most of its gadgets.

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Apple testing a Studio Display with high-end ports and speakers
Macworld It’s no secret that Apple is working on a new generation of its Studio Display with ProMotion and HDR, but it may not be just one model. After taking a deeper look at internal Apple files, Macworld has found evidence that suggests there are actually two separate models in development. Last year, we reported that code in a pre-release build of iOS 26 referenced a new external display identified as “J527,” a codename previously linked to a second-generation Studio Display. That same code pointed to major upgrades such as 120Hz ProMotion and HDR support. Earlier this month, also spotted references to a second model, J427, in the macOS 26.3 code, but it was unclear what the differences were. Now, a fresh analysis of related system files reveals the two models are indeed separate displays with distinctly different features. A split strategy for Studio Display 2 The existence of both J427 and J527 in Apple’s internal files strongly suggests that the next Studio Display may come in two configurations. While both appear to share the same core display capabilities, there are some interesting differences referenced in the firmware. Specifically, each monitor has different audio drivers, implying that the speakers are different. The exact differences are unclear, but Apple may have decided to include better speakers in a higher-end version of its monitor. The current Studio Display includes a high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers and support for spatial audio, the same found in the MacBook Pro, but a high-end system could support audio closer to HomePod. The next Studio Display could get an audio upgrade.Foundry Another difference we noticed is that the J527 version supports more I/O controllers than the J427. The current Studio Display has three USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports and one Thunderbolt 3 port. Presumably, the higher-end Studio Display will have more advanced ports, while the base model will keep the current ones. Interestingly, the J427 version of the monitor is internally labeled as a “2025” product, while J527 is a “2026” product. Perhaps Apple originally planned to introduce these monitors separately, or the higher-end version of the Studio Display may still arrive at a later date. The higher-end features would likely be part of a model with a larger screen as well. It would be odd to sell two 27-inch displays with slightly different speakers and ports, but a 32-inch model that also has upgraded audio and expansion makes more sense An announcement could be right around the corner Apple has teased a week of special announcements, starting on Monday. Rumors strongly suggest that a new low-end MacBook will be the centerpiece of this announcement, along with the M4 iPad Air, M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros, and the iPhone 17e. But there has been persistent evidence that new desktop Macs and displays are coming soon as well, so it’s possible the new Studio Displays arrive sooner than later.

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What Apple's launching in March, and more on the AppleInsider Podcast
Tim Cook made us want to skip the weekend and get straight to the new launches Apple has for us starting on Monday. That might include a low-cost MacBook, but then further ahead there's a hint of a touch-screen MacBook Pro later this year, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.If a MacBook is announced in March, it won't be a MacBook Pro — but a touch-screen one is expected later in 2026What we actually know about next week is that there will be launches. Tim Cook doesn't hint if there's nothing much to say, but he also tagged his post #AppleLaunch.So we know something is coming, and if you listen to the leaks, actually everything is coming. If you've ever heard it rumored, it's all due out next week for sure. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony XM6 earbuds: Personal audio compared
Sony's latest audio release, the WF-1000XM6, are flagship earbuds with improved active noise cancellation. Here's how Sony's flagship personal audio accessories compare against the AirPods Pro 3.AirPods Pro 3 vs Sony XM6 earbudsFebruary saw Sony bring out an update to its upper-tier earbuds. After a three-year wait, the WF-1000XM6 are the electronic company's new best option for in-ear audio.The WF-1000XM6, not to be confused with the similarly-named WH-1000XM6 headphones, lean on the firm's heritage of audio quality, with improvements to noise cancellation also thrown in for good measure. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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What do Apple fans want? An iBook… er SE… er MacBook!
Macworld Next week, Apple is expected to release a new laptop, one that will be the lowest-priced MacBook in the company’s lineup. It’s new territory for Apple, and a new choice that fills a need amongst Apple customers. Because of that, anticipation has built up for this new product. Maybe you want to buy one, maybe you don’t, but you at least want to see what Apple is going to do. That anticipation has spilled over into Macworld’s inboxes and social media comments sections. We’ve been reading your messages, and we’re sharing a few of them here. What to call it: iBook? MacBook SE? A podcast short about the name of the upcoming laptop struck a chord. One idea for the name in particular: iBook resurgence 🤔 Colors and Numbers on TikTok Many others across social media are hoping for an iBook resurgence, but it seems as though Apple has left behind the “i” naming system. Apple’s not one for nostalgia, but you never know. I bet it’s MacBook SE bleepblorp7676 on TikTok Maybe? I mean, there’s the Apple Watch SE, but with the iPhone, Apple dumped “SE” in favor of “[model number]e”, so I don’t know what to think. It’s going to be MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro… NIckname on TikTok That makes the most sense; after all, Apple used to have a “MacBook” that sort of fits the profile of the new product that’s coming. But it just feels so anticlimactic. @macworld.com What to call the cheap Apple laptop #macbook ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld Will it be powerful enough? Reports say that this laptop will use a A18 Pro or A19 chip, the same chips used in iPhones. So, should its processing capability as a Mac be a concern? The target market for this less expensive (not “cheap”) MacBook won’t care or likely even know that it runs on the same CPU as an iPhone… Mitch Stone via Facebook It is an iPhone with a bigger screen. neillwd on YouTube That’s a bad thing? How cheap is ‘cheap’? This laptop is expected to be affordable. But as Apple users know, the company’s idea of “affordable” is often different from ours. I do wish people would stop looking at £700 as cheap, it’s probably going to be a very good computer for the masses.  Kennth Swift on Facebook For the sake of clarification, when we talk about “cheap,” we’re talking about price. We’re not talking about “cheap” as a way of saying “poorly made,” as it is often used. That being said, is $699/£699 (rounded to $700/£700) cheap? In a general sense, I don’t think so, but in the perspective of Apple’s laptop lineup, it is. If $699 I’ll be buying one for my wife in yellow OldSchoolM on TikTok It needs to be $599. Period. iHusk on YouTube Now you’re talkin’ iHusk. But will Apple do that? It feels unbelievable. I want to be wrong on this. Which leads us to… Expect the unexpected I really wonder if this MacBook will run iPadOS instead of MacOS. sactoman0314 on TikTok …Apple should simply make macOS available on the iPad. They could even charge for the license or allow customers to choose between macOS and another operating system when purchasing the device. Doug M. via email I can see why y’all would think that. These prices are in iPad territory. But I think Apple is confident that one won’t cannibalize the other, and I tend to agree. They’re different use cases. I’ve been hearing this prediction since the Mac mini first came out decades ago. quinnretro on TikTok If you say it enough times, it’ll eventually become true. And finally… Apple sure has got a lot of free publicity on their future new MacBooks by teasing all you predictionist journalists for so long.  Neil via email Ouch. The truth hurts, Neil.

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Would any of the reported MacBook compromises be a deal-breaker for you? [Poll]
Apple clearly needs some way of distinguishing the upcoming low-cost MacBook from the more expensive MacBook Air. We’d wondered whether color might be sufficient to limit cannibalization, but it’s been suggested that the new machine may have a number of compromises. 9to5Mac readers aren’t really the target market for an entry-level machine, but some might consider it as a second Mac, while others might recommend it to family and friends. However, would any of the rumoured compromises be a deal-breaker … ? more…

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Apple at 50: Michael Scott, the company's first CEO, made bold and bad choices
As Apple hits 50 years old, AppleInsider recounts the pivotal role of each of its CEOs, starting with the very first one, Michael Scott. He made bold choices, but he made them badly.Michael Scott, age unknown — image credit: Business InsiderSteve Jobs was not Apple's first Chief Executive Officer. While he founded the company on April 1, 1976, with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Jobs had no experience running what was aiming to become a large company.So a CEO was needed, but actually Apple's first two chief executives are tightly interlinked. Mike Markkula would become the second one, but he hired the first — and then later persuaded that first to leave. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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