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- Monday February 02
- 40 minutes agoApple keeps winning today by betting on tomorrow
Macworld Apple, the beleaguered tech giant so far behind in the AI race that it had to ask a rival for help, nevertheless announced startlingly healthy financial results last week, thereby suggesting that, in the tech sector as in Hollywood, nobody knows anything. Maybe customers, who happily spent a record $85 billion on iPhones in late 2025, don’t care about AI as much as we thought. Aside from the eye-watering numbers, however, the most striking thing about Tim Cook’s triumphant earnings call may have been his unwillingness to dwell on the present. Acknowledging that Q1 2026 was “in so many ways a remarkable quarter for Apple,” he went on to stress that the company is “excited for all the opportunities we’ll have in the year ahead to deliver innovations that have never been seen before, and enrich the lives of users every step of the way.” We can debate whether Apple’s priority is truly enriching the lives of its users (the increasing presence of in-software advertising suggests it is at least equally interested in enriching shareholders). Still, it’s certainly true that 2026 is a big year and an inflection point for Apple’s future well-being. One might almost describe the situation as sink-or-swim if the company’s prosperity didn’t make that sound so ridiculous. Right now, Apple isn’t so much swimming as floating above the ocean in an airship made of money. At the risk of repeating the mistakes that led so many of us to underestimate Apple’s prospects during the most recent quarter, one important factor will be the success or failure of the Apple/Google AI partnership. Yes, Apple Intelligence has been a disappointment so far. No, the vast majority of iPhone buyers don’t seem to care… yet. But Apple can’t rely on that remaining the case forever. While AI’s importance–not to mention the value of AI companies–has undoubtedly been exaggerated by interested parties, the technology is filtering through to the mainstream and becoming more of a priority to the average smartphone customer with every passing month. If Gemini-powered Siri, expected to launch within weeks, is a success, then that feeds directly into the success of the iPhone. If it’s a failure… well, people will still buy iPhones, as we’ve seen. But at some point, having no AI tech worth the name will start to eat into those sparkling revenue figures. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Talking of iPhones, we’re also looking forward to a pair of key hardware launches in 2026: the iPhone Fold and the iPhone 17e. And these too represent areas where, incredibly, Apple could achieve even more than it has already. While secondary sources suggest that the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models did the heavy lifting for Apple last quarter, the company will be hoping for a bigger contribution from other parts of the range. The iPhone 16e and iPhone Air were, in very different ways, unappealing options because they made so many compromises without offering much in return; the 16e is a mid-market rather than a true budget phone, and the Air’s superficially impressive slimness has little actual functional benefit. Don’t expect the 17e to be cheaper, but it’s likely to have a better feature set for the same money. And the Fold should give us a usefully radical design. These are just the tip of the iceberg for a year that could, as I’ve written elsewhere, be a wild ride for Apple fans and shareholders alike. I certainly won’t say that it’s make or break, but it does represent a huge opportunity that the company will not wish to squander. Because Apple knows quarters like this aren’t guaranteed to last. The iPhone 17 was an excellent smartphone, and it’s not surprising that lots of people bought it. But it’s excellent in a very traditional way. In the years to come, customers will have different priorities: they may be looking for the ability to run AI, or a foldable, or something far cheaper, or more customisable, or with a better battery life. They may be looking for an entirely different class of device, such as smart glasses or an AI pin. Apple doesn’t know the future, but it knows the future is uncertain. That’s why it spends so much of its resources trying to prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow, rather than congratulating itself on successfully solving the problems of today. Although there were probably some congratulations last week. And deservedly so. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories Intel’s latest chip proves again that Apple made the right decision. Does Tim Cook even care about Apple’s image anymore, asks a faintly horrified Macalope. AI is forcing Alex Blake to buy a new MacBook Pro. Apple doesn’t want AirTag 2 tracking pets. Why not? Why buy a Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold when you can get all this Apple gear instead? The road to the next insanely great Mac is paved with AI. Podcast of the week The latest episode of the Macworld Podcast covers Apple’s new releases: a new AirTag, Apple Creator Studio, and more. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Journey ALTI Lift: A smart desk mat with 15W Qi2 wireless charging. Nektony App Cleaner & Uninstaller: Smart cleanup, friendly experience. The rumor mill We round up 5 iPhone 18 rumors that will make you hate the phone you have now. The next round of M5 Macs is reportedly ‘ready to go.’ Apple just weeks from unveiling Google-powered Siri makeover, report claims. Sorry Apple fans, Mac prices might be going up this year. Video of the week @macworld.com AirTags: New and Improved #apple #airtag #news ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld Apple just announced new AirTags! All is revealed in our latest short. Enjoy our video on TikTok and Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems ‘Harmful’ Google ads masquerading as how-tos are tricking Mac users. Apple pulls four iPhone updates following network issues. And then swiftly rolls out a patch. Apple updates iOS 12 for the first time since 2023. And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.08:00 amThis stacked $399.99 second monitor for MacBooks is now only $180
Macworld TL;DR: The Duex Float is a portable monitor that attaches to the top of your laptop, and it’s on sale now for $180. Second monitors for laptops aren’t uncommon, but most of them suffer from the same design flaw: they’re uncomfortable. Instead of constantly turning your head to see half your workspace, the Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor gives you another option. This second monitor stacks on top of your laptop, so you can keep your work at eye level, and it’s on sale now for $179.99 (reg. $399.99). The Duex Float is a 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen that sits above your laptop screen instead of off to the side. That stacked setup helps you keep both displays in front of you, which is easier on your neck and back during long work days. You can adjust the color and brightness to help reduce eye strain during late nights or extra-long sessions. There are three main ways to use it. Dual screen mode lets you extend or mirror your laptop display. Presentation mode flips the screen so you can show content to someone across the table. Desktop mode turns it into a standalone monitor for gaming, content work, or reading. It works with macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, Nintendo Switch, and select Android phones over USB-C or mini HDMI, including Samsung DeX and M series iPad Stage Manager. At about 4 pounds with a slim profile, the Duex Float is great for travel. A built-in kickstand means you can use it by itself or attach it magnetically to almost any laptop size. In the box, you get the monitor, USB-C and mini HDMI cables, a metal adhesive plate, and a quick guide, plus a one-year warranty from Mobile Pixels. Right now, it’s only $179.99 to get a Duex Float Portable Stacked Monitor. Duex Float Portable Stacked 2nd Monitor for LaptopsSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.05:00 amApple’s foldable plans may not stop at just one iPhone
Apple hasn’t launched its first foldable iPhone yet, but it is already exploring what could come next, with a clamshell-style foldable reportedly under consideration. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)Sunday February 0110:09 pmApple just completely changed how you buy a Mac
Macworld For as long as Apple’s been selling Macs online, it has offered them in a very specific way. There’s the base model, then models with more RAM and storage, higher processor options, larger displays, etc. It requires a bit of study—some models have more storage but less RAM—but it made the pricing very clear. If you go to buy a new Mac from Apple.com today, you’ll notice that things have changed. Instead of a variety of pre-configured options, you’ll see a single product page with “Customizable specs” that let you build your machine from the ground up. For the MacBook Pro, for example, you’ll select from the following options: Display size Color Screen type Chip Processing power Unified memory SSD storage Power adapter Keyboard Pro apps Payment options AppleCare coverage The individual options haven’t changed—you still get 24GB of RAM standard with the M4 Pro and Max processors, for example—but the buying process puts more of an emphasis on building a machine within your budget rather than choosing from a variety of prebuilt configurations. Apple notes that base model options for each machine haven’t changed and will still be available in stores, while the price and delivery time will update in real time as options are chosen. It’s not clear how this will affect third-party sellers such as Amazon and Best Buy, but it’s likely Apple will continue to ship common configurations. Apple is rumored to offer the ability to customize CPU and GPU cores with the upcoming launch of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, so this new system could pave the way for more build-to-order options. It could also be a way to “hide” smaller price increases as memory and other component costs rise throughout 2026. Update February 1: Added additional details.07:24 pmExpect more upsells and subscription bundles from Apple, Creator Studio was just the start | 9 to 5 MacExpect more upsells and subscription bundles from Apple, Creator Studio was just the start
In the future, Apple users should expect more paid upgrades and subscription bundles just like what the company launched with Apple Creator Studio last month. As said by Mark Gurman in this week’s Power On newsletter, “I believe Apple is looking at all areas of its software and services” for further services monetization opportunities. Obviously, the appeal of more subscription bundles depends on the particulars. For instance, Apple One has been very popular and seems relatively consumer friendly. But, while Creator Studio is a reasonable deal for hardcore users of Final Cut and Logic Pro, it also introduced exclusive paid features and upsell banners into Apple’s previously free-with-no-asterisks iWork suite of Pages, Keynote and Numbers. more…07:14 pmStudio Display refresh looms with three key upgrades
Apple’s long-awaited Studio Display refresh might be happening soon. As noted by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, shipping times for Apple’s Studio Display are slipped to late February and Early March in some configurations… more…05:40 pmClamshell iPhone could be Apple's second foldable
The iPhone Fold hasn't shipped yet, but Apple is still considering its future releases. That follow-up may be that long-rumored smaller clamshell-style iPhone.Renders of a possible clamshell iPhone Fold — image credit: AppleInsiderApple is currently working on a foldable version of the iPhone, referred to by the rumor mill as the iPhone Fold. However, the book-style foldable may not be the only one that Apple ships, as its attention turns to what it could release after its first folding smartphone.In Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman is still months away from its iPhone Fold launch, but its labs are looking at another foldable device. This time a small, square, clamshell-like iPhone. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums05:11 pmToday in Apple history: Stephen Colbert shows off iPad early at Grammys
On February 1, 2010, the tech world went into meltdown when Stephen Colbert used a prerelease iPad to read nominations at the Grammy Awards. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)05:10 pmReport: Apple ‘exploring’ clamshell foldable iPhone as potential follow-up model
In today’s Power On newsletter from Mark Gurman, an interesting new possibility was shared for the iPhone lineup: a smaller, clamshell foldable iPhone. This model is far from fruition, though Apple is currently considering it. more…05:02 pmCarPlay Ultra coming to at least one new car later this year, per report
Apple officially launched CarPlay Ultra last year, but only for Aston Martin vehicles. It’s the next-generation version of CarPlay that the company first teased at WWDC 2022 with a revamped design and deeper integration with the car itself. Today, a new report from Bloomberg reveals that CarPlay Ultra will come to at least one major new car later this year … more…02:49 pmNew MacBook Pro release date: Here’s when M5 Pro and M5 Max might debut
In a snippet of the Power On newsletter released today, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman provided an updated release timeline for the new MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max, which are expected to launch before the spring. more…02:21 pmM5 Pro, Max updates for MacBook Pro expected alongside macOS 26.3
We said in 2025 that the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro refresh would coincide with the release of macOS 26.3, and a notable leaker agrees with that timetable that we set.MacBook Pro updates to M5 Pro, M5 Max are expected soonApple is widely anticipated to be preparing an update to the MacBook Pro line for the early stages of 2026. While it didn't happen in January, that launch should occur relatively soon.In AppleInsider's previous reporting on the topic, product identifiers revealed in July 2025 details about Apple's future launches, including the first M5 MacBook Pro sightings in late 2025. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:00 amDespite the global RAM shortage, this MacBook Pro is only $440 (MSRP $1,999)
Macworld TL;DR: Get a near-mint condition refurbished MacBook Pro on sale for $440 (reg. $1,999). The global RAM shortage is raising prices for new computers across the board, but there’s still a way to get a reliable machine for a good price. This refurbished MacBook Pro is in near-mint condition, but it has still been marked down to $439.99 (reg. $1,999). This 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro uses a 10th-gen quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with a 2.0GHz base speed and Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz. It comes with 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a 1TB SSD, so you get fast storage and enough memory for editing, coding, or heavy multitasking. The 13.3-inch Retina display has a 2560×1600 native resolution, True Tone technology, up to 500 nits of brightness, and IPS support for wide viewing angles. The Magic Keyboard includes a Touch Bar for shortcuts and Touch ID for fingerprint login. You get four Thunderbolt 3 ports for charging, external displays, and high-speed accessories, plus 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, stereo speakers, a three-mic array, and a 720p FaceTime HD camera. Battery life is rated for up to 10 hours, and the whole laptop weighs about 3.1 lbs. This unit is listed as Grade A refurbished, which means near-mint condition with very minimal scuffing at most. It comes with an aftermarket 30-day parts and labor warranty from a third party. Right now, you can get a MacBook Pro on sale for $439.99. Offer ends soon. Apple MacBook Pro (2020) 13″ i5 2GHz Touchbar 16GB RAM 1TB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amAI isn’t replacing people who know how to use it
Macworld TL;DR: trAInedup.ai helps everyday people build real AI skills through short, practical lessons, and a lifetime Basic Plan is available for $79.99. Love it or hate it, AI is now baked into how work gets done. The real advantage isn’t just having access to AI tools. It’s knowing how to use them well. trAInedup.ai is built for people who feel overwhelmed by the hype but still want practical, usable skills, and its lifetime subscription is $79.99 (MSRP $459). Instead of dumping you into technical theory, trAInedup.ai starts with a short skills assessment to figure out what you already know and where AI could actually help you. From there, it builds a personalized learning path made up of short, focused courses that fit into real schedules. Lessons are designed to be applied immediately, not studied endlessly. The content is geared toward real-world use cases like productivity, business tasks, creative work, and everyday workflows. Certificates are included so progress is visible, and community access gives learners a place to share wins and ask questions. AI is becoming a baseline skill — trAInedup.ai focuses on helping you use it and speak to it more clearly. Get lifetime access for $79.99 (MSRP $459). trAInedup.ai Basic Plan: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.Saturday January 3110:48 pmSecurity Bite: X going open-source is bad news for anonymous alt accounts
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. Amid the heap of an EU fine levied on X earlier this month, Elon Musk announced that the platform’s entire recommendation algorithm would go open source. Seemingly to help cool the regulatory waters by providing greater transparency into how the social media giant organizes users’ timelines. Usually, IT professionals would see news around something going open source, smile, and move on with their lives. But last week, I came across an interesting thread on none other than X that explains how this move can actually expose anonymous alt accounts through “behavioral fingerprints”…for better or worse. more…09:34 pmApple Switches to Build-to-Order Systems on Its Web Site
"Apple has gone for a choose-your-own-adventure when shopping for a new Mac," writes long-time Slashdot reader esarjeant. Macworld explains: Apple has shifted from selling pre-configured Mac models to a fully customizable build-to-order system on its website, allowing customers to select display size, chip, memory, and storage options... This change emphasizes building a machine within budget rather than choosing from set configurations, potentially preparing for future CPU/GPU core selection with M5 chips. Third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are expected to continue offering standard configurations for customers preferring traditional purchasing methods... Apple is rumored to offer the ability to customize CPU and GPU cores with the upcoming launch of the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, so this new system could pave the way for more build-to-order options. It could also be a way to âoehideâ smaller price increases as memory and other component costs rise throughout 2026. Read more of this story at Slashdot.08:44 pm24% of hit documentary ‘Melania’ attendees subscribe to Apple TV
The hit documentary "Melania," distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, has surprised observers with its strong opening weekend performance… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmIndie App Spotlight: ‘Within Reach’ helps you track your weight loss journey
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. Obesity remains a rampant concern in America, with 2 in 5 adults struggling with obesity. GLP-1 medications have become popular in recent years to help people manage their weight – and Within Reach is a companion app to help you track everything related to the journey. more…07:16 pmOnline Apple Store makes buying a Mac more like buying an iPhone
Apple has quietly updated the way that users buy and configure Macs on the online Apple Store, giving customers a process that's closer to buying an iPhone or iPad.The new process of buying a Mac from Apple is similar to that of an iPhone or iPadThe online Apple Store guides users through configuring their new hardware before purchasing it, with some variation in the methodology depending on the product. In a very quiet change to the website, Apple has updated the way users buy a Mac.Initially spotted byConsomac, users are no longer provided with a selection of base configuration Macs to choose from before configuring them. Instead, they are taken through a process that's pretty close to what happens when they buy an iPhone or iPad from the website. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums06:46 pmApple revamps how you buy a Mac online, removes preconfigured options
Apple has updated its website with changes to the checkout flow when buying a new Mac. Previously, the Apple Online Store would show you a range of preconfigured options with specific processors, RAM, and storage configurations, before letting you dive into the granular configurator. With this week’s revamp, however, those preconfigured options have been removed… more…