Xlr8yourmac goes offline, ending an era of DIY tinkering
If you know the site xlr8yourmac.com then this is a bad day. After close to three decades of Mac hardware reviews and support, the site appears to have shut down for good.xlr8yourmac has closed downI've probably only cracked open one Mac in my life, maybe added a video card twice, and haven't touched external SCSI since using a Macintosh IIfx with the funky active terminator. Mike Wuerthele, my co-author on this piece, on the other hand has done things like "shove in more hard drives into a Mac Pro than was thermally and electrically wise" and is our Thunderbolt and external storage guy.The site that helped us do this, the very hardware-focused xlr8yourmac.com has now gone offline, very recently. We reached out both to ask what has happened, and to express regret that such a long-standing and so very useful site is gone. And yesterday we found out that the email for the site is not taking emails either. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Peak Design Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 review: A minimalist charging solution
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros High charging speed Very long USB-C cable included High-quality workmanship Secure stand Cons No carrying case included Restrictions possible with protective cover for iPhone 17 Pro Our Verdict If you are looking for a slim, elegant and high-quality charging station, this Qi2 wireless charging stand combines minimalist design with modern technology. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$79.95 Best Prices Today: Peak Design Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 Retailer Price $78.45 View Deal Peak Design $79.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Unpack and pause – that’s exactly what you do when you hold the charging station from Peak Design in your hands. Elegant and high quality – that’s the first impression. Made from solid aluminium and stainless steel, the Magsafe and Qi2-compatible Peak Design Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 is impressive across the board. The relatively high weight of 276 grams is also positive for such a slim charging station, as it is designed to stand reliably. Not only the high-quality choice of materials, but also the infinitely adjustable inclination, the rubberised base and the coated charging surface contribute to the positive image. Compatible with all Magsafe iPhones and the Qi2 charging standard, the Qi2 wireless charging stand supports charging at 15, 10, 7.5 and 5 watts. The scope of delivery includes a USB-C cable almost two metres long and clips to secure the cable when laying. Practice with surprises The Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 looks stylish with its dimensions of 14.1 × 6.9 × 1.6 centimetres. But how does it perform in practice? For practical use, you need a power supply unit with at least 20 watts of power. The iPhone – in our case an iPhone 15 and an iPhone 17 Pro – holds very well, both in portrait and landscape format. Power supply connected and measured: What percentage is the iPhone charged to after 30 minutes? First the tried and tested with an iPhone 15 – here we measured a value of 39 per cent, putting it in the top group. Then the iPhone 17 Pro – surprise: 44 per cent! Also a very good value, although the Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 does not support 25-watt charging. And another surprise: The Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 can also charge headphone charging cases, although Peak Design does not officially state this. Should you buy the Peak Design Wireless Charging Stand Qi2? The Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 from Peak Design is an elegant and high-quality charging station. When folded up, it can be stowed away to save space or easily taken with you when travelling. When unfolded, it offers a very stable stand – a rarity for this type of design. Typing lightly on the iPhone display is no problem, only with stronger pressure can the comparatively heavy construction slip. The hinge can withstand this without any problems. However, some iPhone 17 Pro cases can cause problems with the Magsafe contact surface, as protruding protective edges of the case protect the camera plateau and interfere with the contact. The long USB-C cable included in the scope of delivery is a very positive feature. However, anyone taking the charging station with them when travelling would appreciate a carrying case. You should definitely get a suitable bag to keep the Qi2 wireless charging stand looking good for a long time. We recommend the Tech Pouch Small, which also offers space for the power supply unit and the AirPods. In addition to the excellent workmanship, the high charging speed is particularly impressive. All of this justifies the top-end price of just under $80. View Peak Design Wireless Charging Stand Qi2 at Amazon

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Japan to become 29th country to get third-party iPhone app stores
Apple’s monopoly on the sale of iPhone apps is set to be further eroded according to a new tweet showing third-party app stores in the iOS 26.2 beta in Japan. This follows a ruling by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission in August that both Apple and Google must allow alternative app stores. This will make Japan the 29th country to get third-party app stores for the iPhone, with others set to follow as courts and antitrust regulators continue to issue rulings … more…

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Apple Vision Pro with M5 review: a chip can't fix developer relations
The M5 doesn't remake Apple Vision Pro into a hit consumer product, nor does it solve Apple's ongoing issues with a lack of developer interest in the platform, but it is better, and that may be enough.Apple Vision Pro review: M5 and nothing elseIf you've been an Apple fan long enough, you've heard the complaints about overpowered hardware and an underserved software ecosystem. However, that wasn't in regard to the Apple Vision Pro, but the iPad Pro.The first iteration of Apple Vision Pro with M2 that launched in 2024 was an odd product. The chipset couldn't drive all the pixels on the display, but software wasn't exactly taxing the chipset anywhere except some games. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple demands payment from long-time legal foe Hagens Berman over misconduct
In the rubble of the failed Apple and Amazon price fixing suit, the pair have demanded $2 million from Hagens Berman, with the firm accused trying to dishonestly keep a dead class action alive.Apple and Amazon take on lawyers in courtApple is very familiar with the courtroom, due to being the target of many lawsuits, as well as going after others infringing on its rights. However, it's rare for it to go after lawyers directly.In one filing on Monday at the United States District Court in Seattle, Amazon and Apple have demanded a payment for attorneys' fees and costs from Hagens Berman. The justification was to cover the cost of legal efforts prompted by a "lack of candor" by the opposing legal firm. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Enterprises Need To Recast Cloud Reliability Expectations: Analyst
Cloud outages show reliability isn’t guaranteed. Analysts warn enterprises to rethink multicloud strategy, redundancy, uptime planning, and continuity architecture. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Here’s how the new Motorola Edge 70 compares to the iPhone Air
The iPhone Air managed to beat the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to become the slimmest smartphone on the market, though we noted at the time that it’s not the slimmest smartphone we’ve ever seen. The latest contender on the Android front is the shiny new Motorola Edge 70, which is very slightly thicker than the iPhone Air, but has a much thinner camera bump and compares well in several other ways … more…

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M4 to M5 MacBook Pro benchmarks impressive, but little real-world benefit
Most people upgrade their MacBook Pro no more frequently than once every five years, and some leave it considerably longer than that. But Apple always makes it sound like even last year’s model is now hopelessly outdated, something it did again with the launch of the M5 MacBook Pro. There’s no doubt that the company is achieving incredibly impressive year-on-year increases in Apple Silicon performance, but real-life tests show that upgrading from one generation to the next doesn’t make sense for the vast majority of MacBook owners … more…

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'Safe Houses' thriller coming to Apple from 'Homeland' creator
Apple TV has signed "Homeland" creator Gideon Raff to produce a new espionage series based on a thriller by best-selling author Dan Fesperman.Apple TV continues to add new thriller seriesApple TV has long had a reputation for science fiction hits, such as "Silo," but the streamer is building one for thrillers. As well as "Slow Horses" and the same team's new "Down Cemetery Road," it has now ordered an eight-part espionage series called "Safe Houses."Based on the 11th thriller by ex-journalist Dan Fesperman, it concerns the aftermath when a high-ranking CIA officer is murdered in Madrid. The murder is then investigated simultaneously by his widow, and by a fugitive agent accused of the crime. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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New Apple TV show Pluribus will have an official companion podcast
The new sci-fi drama Pluribus lands on Apple TV this Friday. The highly anticipated series from Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, stars Rhea Seehorn as Carol, a woman in a world that needs saving from a contagion of happiness. Apple has been ramping up the marketing for this show significantly, clearly expecting it to be a big hit. And part of that is the announcement of a new official Apple TV companion podcast … more…

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iPad Pro (M5) review: Still great, now with boosted graphics and AI performance
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Our Verdict The new iPad Pro M5 is the best tablet on the market. The display is significantly better than the other iPads, and Apple’s good keyboard case makes a MacBook superfluous for many users. It also offers more performance in AI applications and more RAM for the entry-level models. However, an upgrade from the M4 model is not necessary, and the much cheaper iPad Air M3 is a strong competitor. Pros First-class display Outstanding performance Good battery life Fast Thunderbolt interface New optimizations for AI applications Cons Incremental performance boost over M4 Cellular support via eSIM only Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$999 Best Prices Today: Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, 2025) Retailer Price $947 View Deal $989 View Deal $999 View Deal $999 View Deal $999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket When Apple introduced the iPad Pro M4 just over a year ago, it came with a host of new features and a completely new design. The premium tablet stands out from the iPad Air with its thinner design, great OLED display, and faster chip. But Apple just replaced the iPad Pro’s M4 chip with an M5 chip, and overall, the new M5 iPad Pro offers small improvements. Design and display With the iPad Pro, Apple has succeeded in designing an elegant and thin profile that is nevertheless very robust and high-quality. The 13-inch model is only 5.1 millimeters thick; the 11-inch model is 5.3 millimeters. The quality and workmanship are first-class, and thanks to the robust aluminium housing, the device is likely to make a presentable impression even after many years of intensive use. Incidentally, it is only possible to distinguish between the M4 and M5 iPad Pros by a small detail: only the M4 model has a model label on the back, the M5 model lacks a serial number and model number. However, Apple’s Smart Keyboard for iPad Pro (released in 2015) is not compatible with the M4 and M5 models, and users with old accessories will have to purchase a new keyboard cover (in two colors) and a new protective cover. The switch to OLED display technology helps save a lot of space in the iPad Pro. For comparison, the 13-inch iPad Air, which has an LED display, is a full millimeter thicker than the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro. The iPad Air is also noticeably heavier at 682 grams, compared to the iPad Pro’s 579 grams. As a mobile device, the iPad Pro has an advantage. Eugen Wegmann The iPad Pro’s OLED is a first-class display. Apple uses a Tandem OLED panel, and with its brightness support up to 1,000 nits, this is around twice as bright as the iPad Air, and can even increase the brightness to 1,600 nits for HDR content, a real advantage for HDR photos or HDR videos. The adaptive refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz Pro Motion is also supported. The display impresses with first-class colors and image sharpness, making the IPS panels of the other iPads seem almost a little outdated. For color-critical tasks such as professional image editing or video editing, the iPad Pro offers a special “reference mode” in which the iPad uses reference colors for common color standards and video formats. If you use this mode, color adjustments such as Night Shift and True Tone are automatically switched off. Calibration with an external device is also possible. In contrast to the iPad Air models, the Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HGL color profiles are also supported. The 1TB and 2TB models can also be equipped with nano-textured glass for an extra $100/£100, which significantly reduces reflections. However, this also makes the displays somewhat more sensitive to scratches. CPU and GPU performance The iPad Pro is equipped with Apple’s very latest chip, the M5. Compared to the M4 chip, the M5 chip offers some interesting new features: The memory bandwidth increases from 120GB per second to 153GB per second, and it also offers better dynamic caching and faster ray tracing. The latter enables faster gameplay and more realistic visual effects. The graphics performance in particular has increased in the M5 models. Stephan Wiesend Our testing shows that the M5 CPU is slightly faster than the M4 it replaces. The M5’s Geekbench scores were 4144 (single-core) and 16,503 (multi-core), which is almost 12 percent higher than the M4. Good, but not really a result that’s obviously noticeable. Apple likes to mention the performance gains compared to the M1, which was in the 2021 iPad Pro; it’s a good way to demonstrate how far Apple Silicon has come in a short time, but also, the five-year mark is when users that thinking about upgrading. An M1 iPad Pro has Geekbench scores of 2253 and 8135, around half the performance of the M5. There is another new feature that significantly improves the performance of some iPad models. Previously, the 256GB and 512GB models only had 8GB RAM, while the larger models had 16GB RAM. Now the two entry-level models have 12GB RAM, which improves performance for many tasks and is a good investment in the long term. In addition, the M5 continues to offer its own neural engine with sixteen cores. The most important chip innovation, however, is a faster GPU with neural accelerators in each graphics core. These accelerators are designed to perform certain AI functions up to four times faster. With a score of 74786 in the Geekbench Compute Metal benchmark, the M5 iPad Pro is 26 percent faster than the M4 model. The Solar Bay benchmark, which also relies heavily on Metal and ray tracing, saw an increase of 22 percent. The Wild Life Extreme benchmark only measures just under 12 percent more performance than the M4. The strengths of the new graphics chip obviously lie primarily in the areas of Metal and ray tracing. The Wildlife Extreme Stress Test measures performance under continuous load. Stephan Wiesend As with the previous model, overheating is not a problem, and CPU performance in particular is only moderately reduced under continuous load. With the APSI tool, which is optimized for measuring continuous CPU load, I measured a long-term performance of 81 percent. However, the predecessor’s performance was only reduced to 86 percent. The measurement with Wild Life Stress Test confirms this for long graphics loads. According to the measurement, the graphics load drops to a good 79 per cent after a few runs. The current model is therefore also well-suited for long gaming sessions and intensive work with graphics applications. Due to the higher graphics performance, the graphics are clocked down faster than on the iPad Pro M4, but remain at a very high level. Improved AI performance The performance leaps of the M5 are also enormous in the area of AI. Apple promises up to fourfold increase in performance in AI tasks! However, this only applies to tasks where the graphics card is used instead of the CPU. This performance improvement can be gauged with the Geekbench AI benchmark, for example, which checks the performance of the CPU, GPU, or Neural Engine in various AI tasks. The measured data from the benchmark confirms that the new CPU and Neural Engine of the M5 only deliver moderate increases, but when accessing the graphics card, the performance is more than twice that of the M4. However, the question remains as to how useful this is in practice. Many AI tasks such as creating graphics with Image Playground, cropping an object in Final Cut Pro, or summarizing a website, are performed by the efficient but slower Neural Engine. The system selects the hardware independently, and you have no opportunity to intervene. The M5 delivers significantly better performance in AI applications such as Draw Things.Stephan Wiesend To check the performance increases promised by Apple, we must therefore adhere very closely to Apple’s specifications. The graphics card is used, for example, when scaling videos in DaVinci Resolve or for certain actions in Final Cut Pro. In particular, the graphics card should enable significant acceleration when generating AI images. According to Apple, it is possible to create AI images up to 3.5 times faster with the Draw Things tool, a popular app for generating AI images. We check this out: in our first test, we select the lean model Waifu in the tool and measure the average duration of generating a portrait with a random prompt. With the M4 iPad Pro, it took 50 seconds to complete the AI work, while the M5 iPad Pad took 29 seconds. The new device is therefore significantly faster, but only by a factor of 1.7, lower than the factor of 3.5 promised by Apple. The performance also depends heavily on the tasks and the model used. We therefore repeat the Draw Things test with the Qwen model, also used by Apple. On the M4 iPad Pro, this model takes almost 34 minutes, but the M5 iPad Pro finished after just 13 minutes and 31 seconds. That’s 2.5 times faster and much closer to Apple’s performance promise. Faster storage According to Apple, the iPad Pro’s SSD should be twice as fast as its predecessor when reading and writing. However, the complex caching system of iPadOS makes measurements more difficult, so our benchmarks unfortunately provide very different data. With the Jazz Disk app, we measured 5626.37MBps for reading and 1924.81MBps for writing. With the M4 iPad Pro, it was 3362 MBps and 2017MBps for reading and writing. The M5 iPad Pro performs even better in Antutu’s memory benchmark: 6289MBps for writing and 7239.2MBps for reading. The M4 iPad Pad scores were 3078MBps (read) and 3505MBps (write). The Pro models not only offer a fast SSD but also a fast USB-C interface, which we tested with an external SSD. With a 34GB file and a LaCie Rugged SSD, I measured a maximum transfer rate of 2594MBps when transferring to the iPad Pro and 1190MBps when copying to the SSD. This is roughly the same as its predecessor and is an excellent value. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support The new iPad Pro M5 supports the latest Bluetooth 6 and the Wi-Fi 7 standard (IEEE 802.11be) thanks to Apple’s new N1 chip. This is an upgrade that shouldn’t be underestimated. It significantly speeds up AirDrop, for example, and should benefit the hotspot function. As a practical test, I transferred a 2.6GB file from an iPhone 17 Pro Max. With the M4 iPad Pro and Wi-Fi 6e, the transfer takes 54 seconds; with the M5 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi 7, it takes only 34 seconds. That’s an increase from 49MBps to 78MBps, a real leap in performance that’s noticeable. Apple also claims to have boosted 5G performance by up to 50 percent, thanks to Apple’s self-developed C1X modem. However, cellular support requires an eSIM; the lack of physical SIM support may be an issue for some. Camera and audio The M5 iPad Pro continues to offer a front and rear camera and is the only iPad model with a flash and lidar on the back. The flash is optimized for photographing documents and enables photos and videos to be taken even in poor lighting conditions. Up to 4K at 60 fps video is possible, with a special app also in ProRes format. Thanks to the lidar camera, you can take precise measurements of the immediate surroundings. This sensor is also very useful for AR applications. The image quality is acceptable, but it cannot keep up with current iPhone cameras. The front camera positioned on the side also produces rather mediocre image quality; it is a wide-angle camera with weaknesses in poor lighting. Thanks to digital zoom, however, it always keeps you in the center of attention during video calls and can provide a wider viewing angle if required. Another strength of the iPad Pro is the good audio quality. Four loudspeakers and four microphones deliver good sound quality during video conferences, for example, even at high volumes. The Pro models are also ahead of the competition when it comes to playing music and videos. Battery performance Apple has not changed the battery capacity compared to its predecessor. The 13-inch model has a battery with 38.99 watt hours, while the 11-inch model has 31.29 watt hours. Both models should provide 10 hours of video playback and surfing. Our tests confirm this, and we even achieved 14 hours of video playback. Apple has sped up charging: If the battery is empty, you can restore it to 50 percent capacity in 30 minutes. With the predecessor, we only reached 30 percent after half an hour, but with the M5 iPad Pro, it reached 51 percent. However, this fast charging requires a charger with 60 watts of charging power. For our battery life test, we play a video in a continuous loop at full brightness. After 14 hours, the device switches off, just like the model with M4. An advantage over the other models: an OLED display can switch off parts of the display when the screen is dark, saving a lot of energy. The iPad can therefore last even longer when using dark mode. Surfing the web or playing videos only drains the battery minimally. However, this changes under full CPU and graphics load, when the battery drains rapidly: with a graphics-heavy benchmark such as Wild Life Extreme or rendering an AI image, the battery power can drop by 20 per cent after just 20 minutes of maximum load. This is a big difference from models such as the iPad 11, which consume little energy even under full load thanks to a slow CPU. Should you buy the M5 iPad Pro? The new iPad Pro M5 is the best tablet on the market. The display is significantly better than the other iPads, and Apple’s good keyboard case makes a MacBook superfluous for many users. It also offers more performance in AI applications and more RAM for the entry-level models. However, an upgrade from the M4 model is not necessary, and the much cheaper M3 iPad Air is a strong consideration for many users who don’t use pro apps. Technical specifications ModelM5 11-inch iPad ProM5 13-inch iPad ProPrice (basic model)$999/£999$1,299/£1,299Price (Cellular base model)$1,199/£1,199$1,499/£1,499Display11″ Ultra Retina XDR13″ Ultra Retina XDRPixel2420×16682752×2064Resolution264 ppi264 ppiDisplay technologyTandem OLED, ProMotion technology, Fully laminated display, Anti-reflective coatingTandem OLED, ProMotion technology, fully laminated display, anti-reflective coatingColour spaceWide color gamut (P3), True ToneWide color gamut (P3), True ToneBrightness1000 nits; HDR 1600 nits1000 nits; HDR 1600 nitsDisplay optionNano-textured glass (1TB and 2TB models)Nano-textured glass (1TB and 2TB models)ChipApple M5Apple M5CPU with 256GB and 512GB SSD9-core CPU (3 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)9-core CPU (3 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)CPU with 1TB and 2TB SSD10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)10-core CPU (4 performance cores, 6 efficiency cores)Memory bandwidth153GBpsHardware-accelerated 8K H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, AV1 decodingGraphics10-core GPU with Neural Accelerators10-Core GPU with Neural AcceleratorsNeural Engine16-core16-CoreMeadia EngineHardware-accelerated 8K H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, AV1 decodingHardware accelerated 8K H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, AV1 decodingMemory12GB to 512GB memory; 16GB with 1TB and 2TB SSD12GB to 512GB memory; 16GB with 1TB and 2TB SSDStorage capacity options256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TBCameraWide-angle 12 MP, ƒ/1.8Wide-angle 12 MP, ƒ/1.8 apertureFront cameraLandscape format 12MP centre stage camera, ƒ/2.0 apertureLandscape format 12MP centre stage camera, ƒ/2.0 apertureLoudspeaker, microphone4 loudspeakers, 4 microphones4 speakers, 4 microphonesSensorsFace ID, LiDAR scanner, 3-axis gyro sensor, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensorFace ID, LiDAR scanner, 3-axis gyro sensor, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensorConnectionsThunderbolt/USB 4; Smart ConnectorThunderbolt/USB 4; Smart ConnectorPencil (optional)Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB)Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB)Wi-FiApple N1, WLAN 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMOApple N1, WLAN 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMOBluetooth66Mobile dataApple C1X, 5G/LTE/UMTS/HSDPAApple C1X, 5G/LTE/UMTS/HSDPASIM cardeSIMeSIMColoursSilver, Space BlackSilver, Space BlackBatteryLithium polymer, 31.29 WhLithium polymer, 38.99 WhSurfing Wi-Fi10 hours10 hoursMobile surfing9 hours9 hoursDimensions (W/H/D) in millimeters177,5/249,7/5,3215,5/281,6/5,1Weight in grams444 (Wi-Fi); 446 (Cellular)579 (Wi-Fi); 582 (Cellular)

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These real-world tests will convince you to switch to the M5 MacBook Pro
Macworld Performance is the killer feature for creative professionals. The faster you can render an animation file, export Adobe Lightroom photos, or do something crazy like create your own large language model for artificial intelligence, the more time you save. For most creatives, a workflow that’s faster and more efficient can literally generate more income–and reduce stress. As a writer and photographer, I use a 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro on a daily basis, and the time has come to consider an upgrade. I know in the back of my head that Apple has been pushing the envelope lately, and I also know the new MacBook Pro M5 is significantly faster. How much faster? Apple says for AI tasks like the large language model database I mentioned, you can expect speed improvements on the order of 3.5 times faster than the M4 version. The M5 is also 6 times faster than the original M1 model, released back in 2020. The new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro costs $1,599/£1,599, which is not exactly an impulse purchase. That’s why I decided to do some of my own workflow tests using apps like Blender and Adobe Lightroom. Then I “crunched the numbers” using benchmarking apps like Geekbench AI and Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. While I wasn’t always blown away by the performance improvements, there were a few shocking revelations. I used macOS 26.1 on both machines, and they were both outfitted with 16GB of RAM (coincidentally, both are Space Black). Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 2025) Read our review Price When Reviewed: $1,599 Best Prices Today: $1,536.50 at Amazon | $1549 at B&H | $1570 at Walmart I offer my impressions after explaining the results from each test, along with whether I am ready to spring for the new machine. Creative workflows For testing the creative process, I picked tasks that tend to be time-consuming and slow me down. On my M3, I may have cursed the engineers at Apple just a little as I’ve waited for my photos to export out of Adobe Lightroom, for example. It feels like an eternity when an event organizer is texting and emailing you multiple times asking for the final shots. I also built a song in GarageBand and mastered the audio file, then tried a Blender animation render. Adobe Lightroom export

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Apple releases visionOS 26.1 update, addresses assorted bugs, security issues
It may not be a huge update for the Apple Vision Pro’s visionOS operating system, but it could offer some neat stuff. Apple on Monday released its visionOS 26.1 update, which offers a few bug fixes, but not much else. What little was provided in the beta release notes during testing suggests Apple is working […] Source

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Apple releases iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 updates
Similar to Apple’s macOS Tahoe 26.1 update, Apple on Monday also released the long-awaited iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1 updates. The updates include the following: Liquid Glass toggle: Apple has added the option to choose between clear and tinted user interfaces. The tinted option changes the opacity level behind things like notifications and tab bars. […] Source

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A lifetime license for Microsoft Office now costs less than one year of Microsoft 365
Macworld TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac for $40 or Windows for $20. You don’t have to pay $99.99 every year for Microsoft 365 to get apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Instead, if you go for an older version of Microsoft Office, you can get a lifetime license that you only have to pay for once. Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac is now $39.97 (reg. $229), and Office Pro Plus for Windows is only $19.97 (reg. $229). Each license lasts for life with no recurring costs or strings attached. You can download your apps onto one computer, and then they’re yours for the life of that computer. The Mac license comes with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook OneNote Teams Classic The Windows license comes with the same apps, but instead of Teams, you get Publisher and Access. These are the 2019 versions of Microsoft apps you may already be using in Microsoft 365. As they’re a little older, they may look a little different, but they still work great. And you only pay for them once. Right now, you can get Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac for $39.97 Microsoft Office Pro Plus for Windows for $19.97 Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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This unique 100W cable works with almost any device
Macworld TL;DR: The GoCable 8-in-1 Charger is now on sale for $20. A low battery at the wrong time can ruin a day. If you want to make sure you always have a charger on hand without sacrificing pocket space, try the GoCable. This 8-in-1 charger works with all Type-C and Lightning devices, and it’s on sale now for $19.97 (reg. $49.99). Chargers gotta charge, and this one gets the job done with ultra-fast 100W power delivery. The built-in LED power display even tells you how much power you’re getting. This durable little cable also doubles as a keychain. You can also hook the built-in carabiner to your bag, and it might come in handy for more than just low batteries. The carabiner has its own hidden bottle opener and safe-proof cutter. No more opening boxes with your keys.  For a limited time, you can get a GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for $19.97. Sale ends soon. GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W CableSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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iOS 26.2 beta 1: All the new features and changes
Apple has rolled out iOS 26.2 beta 1 to developers, bringing several new features and enhancing the existing ones for a better experience. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Mac Studio to get M5 Ultra power in 2026
Apple may have skipped the M4 Ultra this year, but reports suggest an M5 Ultra-powered Mac Studio is coming in 2026. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iOS 26: How to customize the iPhone's Lock Screen clock
Apple added a ton of features and tweaks with iOS 26, including to the iPhone's Lock Screen. Here's how to customize your iPhone's clock, including its size.You can make your iPhone's Lock Screen clock look just the way you like it.The clock might be one of the most-used things on your iPhone, and you probably don't realize it. Especially if you have a model with an always-on display, like the iPhone 17.For even if you have an Apple Watch, glancing at your iPhone is often the easiest way to check the time. Yet the clock hasn't changed all that much since the iPhone shipped in 2007. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Creator Studio referenced in iOS 26.2 beta 1, but meaning is unclear
Apple could be gearing up to release something called Apple Creator Studio, but whether it's a subscription, an app bundle, or a rename of Pixelmator Pro is unknown.Apple Creator Studio referenced, but it's anyone's guess as to what it meansApple released iOS 26.2 beta 1 on Tuesday, and code sleuths have been diving through it to find potential references to future releases. While Apple's developers usually do a good job of hiding everything we're not meant to see before a beta is published, some things still slip through.Code sleuth Aaron, known as @aaronp613 on X, shared that there's a reference to Apple Creator Studio in the iOS 26.2 beta. There aren't any other details about the reference, nor where it was found in the code, so it is difficult to ascertain what it could mean. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Beelink Mate mini 80Gbps Dock review: Port expansion without the bandwidth limit
Finally, a relatively inexpensive storage and ports dock for the M4 Mac mini that isn't bandwidth constrained.Beelink Mate mini DockFor many years, Thunderbolt and USB docks have been designed to neatly fit underneath your Mac mini. There have been good ones, and bad ones.In the 15 years I've been doing this gig facing the Internet, I've repeatedly seen the same problem crop up in terms of bandwidth. More recently, I've reviewed a pile of hubs that use 10 gigabit USB-C instead of 40 gigabit plus Thunderbolt, and manufacturers somehow expect external storage, USB ports, and an HDMI connection to all work fine with that 10 gigabits per second of bandwidth. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple details new APIs for parental consent and age verification in Texas
Apple has released new APIs and sandbox tools to help developers comply with the new requirements for apps available in Texas. Here are the details. more…

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Apple Brings Its App Store To the Web
Apple has officially launched a web-based version of its App Store that lets users browse apps across all Apple devices through a redesigned interface. "There's no way to download apps from the App Store on the web, however," notes The Verge. "Apple just gives you the option to share an app or open it directly inside the App Store installed on your device." From the report: Now, when you navigate to apps.apple.com, you'll see the revamped interface instead of a webpage that just contains information about the App Store. [...] Along with the ability to switch between listings of apps for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, you can check out recommendations on the Today tab as well as sort apps by category, such as productivity, entertainment, adventure, and more. The new web-based App Store also serves as a portal where you can search for apps, too. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Apple inadvertently leaked front-end source code of new App Store on the web
The web-based App Store browser Apple introduced Tuesday had some rookie mistakes in its implementation, which has led to the front-end source code getting published on GitHub.Apple's App Store viewed on the webThe App Store is only fully functional on an Apple device like your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but there's always been a way to view apps in a web browser. Apple revamped that experience by introducing a full App Store browser on Tuesday, but it lacks the ability to sign in, make purchases, or view account info.According to a GitHub repository discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple left the website's sourcemaps enabled in the published version. It's a rookie mistake to leave them enabled, but it's also not harmful to Apple, developers, or users. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple accidentally leaks new web App Store front-end source code, ends up on GitHub
Just hours after Apple launched a revamped web interface for the App Store, a GitHub project was released with the site’s entire front-end source code. Here’s how that happened. more…

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Apple Delays Home App Update Requirement Until February 2026
Apple will officially discontinue support for its original Home architecture (formerly HomeKit) on February 10, 2026. As MacRumors points out, Apple has informed users that they need to "update now to avoid interruptions." AppleInsider reports: The underlying HomeKit architecture was revamped in March 2023 alongside iOS 16.4, so Apple has been supporting both the new and old architecture for the last two years. There were initial problems with stability that may have discouraged some users from upgrading, but those problems have now been addressed. When Apple stops supporting the original HomeKit architecture, it will break support for the Home app on devices running older versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2 are the minimum versions of Apple's platforms that work with the updated Apple Home app, and older devices will lose access. The update includes support for features like guest access, support for robot vacuum cleaners, and Activity History. Apple says it also provides faster, more reliable performance, especially for smart homes with a lot of HomeKit and Matter accessories installed. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Price drop: Customize your Mac to the max with MacPilot
Save on a lifetime sub to MacPilot, awesome software that lets you easily customize your Mac with all sorts of advanced tweaks. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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WhatsApp debuts Apple Watch app with voice messages and more
WhatsApp, Meta Platforms Inc.'s widely used messaging app, has launched a dedicated Apple Watch application, enabling users to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple Card adds Hertz as a new 3% Daily Cash partner, plus more perks
Apple Card has a new perk for cardholders. Apple announced today that Apple Card now offers 3% Daily Cash back for car rentals with Hertz. In addition to that boosted Daily Cash, you’ll also get lower rates, free emergency service, and more. more…

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iOS 26.2 adds enhanced alerts for earthquakes and imminent threats, and a new tone
Apple is working to introduce a new Enhanced Safety Alerts setting on iOS 26.2. Here are the details. more…

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