Scanners
- Sunday November 08
- 57 minutes agoApple's iOS 28 schedule shift helps engineers get more creative
Apple has experimented with how it develops its operating system updates, with early schedule changes in making the 28-gen updates, letting engineers become more creative earlier in the process.Apple ParkLike any major project, Apple's annual operating system updates like iOS 27 require some intense scheduling. However, the way you schedule work can have a big impact on the final result.According to Mark Gurman in Sunday's "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg on Sunday, Apple has made a tweak to how it works on its operating system updates. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums1 hour agoToday in Apple history: Wild stunt lets strangers take Macs for 24-hour ‘test drive’
On November 8, 1984, Apple fired up its “Test Drive a Macintosh” ad campaign, offering customers the chance to borrow a Mac for 24 hours. (via Cult of Mac – Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)1 hour agoReport: John Ternus pushing Craig Federighi to speed up Apple software engineering
In the past few years, a major Apple story (especially in the age of AI) has been that the company isn’t moving fast enough in the space to keep up with competitors. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, new Apple CEO John Ternus is reportedly pushing on software chief Craig Federighi to ‘accelerate’ Apple’s roadmap for software. more…1 hour agoApple aiming to make Siri ‘more like an agent’ as soon as next year: report
Apple finally shipped its long awaited personalized Siri with iOS 27. The company lived up to its promises, and delivered on its hefty goals that it set out back in 2024. That said, Siri still lacks in terms of proactively taking actions for you, a feature that many AI companies are actively working towards. Apple might come around on that next year, per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The company is also experimenting with a new engineering pipeline that might make faster development possible. more…1 hour agoSiri AI won't get more control of Apple apps until Spring 2027
Siri is already capable of handling some tasks for iOS 27.3 developer beta users. Apple is exploring making it even more useful to keep up with rival AI apps.Siri AIDevelopers in iOS 27.3 are discovering that Siri AI can do a lot more for users. For first-party apps, users can ask Siri what it can do, and then ask for it to carry out those same tasks.However, this is only one step for Apple. It wants to do a lot more, both in terms of task complexity and for third-party apps too. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:26 pmApple leadership may have differing views on AI strategy
A new report suggests Apple still faces internal battles around AI strategy even though it has seemingly held to the same strategy set by John Giannandrea nearly a decade prior.Apple Intelligence development continuesThe usual chatter and rumors that make it out of containment to reporters' ears suggest catastrophe and confusion within Apple even as evidence suggests otherwise. In a world where the AI bubble is bursting, if not at least deflating faster by the day, it's odd to see reports continue to suggest Apple has a poor strategy.According to the "Power On" newsletter from Bloomberg, CEO John Ternus has asked Craig Federighi to produce more AI faster, even as the report contradicts itself and suggests Federighi's planning is already on too short of a timeframe. The report doesn't reflect the realities as they have been observed externally, where Apple has kept a cool head and avoided billions in losses and wasted investment versus its competitors. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:25 pmSiri AI chief may step down as more Apple departures are rumored
Apple's Mike Rockwell is reportedly considering leaving at least his current role as head of Siri AI, perhaps prompting a shakeup of executive roles at the company.Apple ParkRockwell was behind the development of the Apple Vision Pro and subsequently became head of Siri AI as Apple worked to revamp Siri into the version released in 2026. According to Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter, though, he is seriously contemplating his future.Reportedly, this could comprise his stepping down as lead of Siri AI during 2027. However, it might further mean his leaving Apple altogether.The new report has no further detail, but speculates that if Rockwell makes either move, his current responsibilities would probably be shared between two people. Those are ex-Google AI veteran Amar Subramanya, and Sebastien Marineau. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:19 pmFind the beloved Clarus the Dogcow on your iPhone today
Apple sneaks a nostalgic Easter egg featuring Clarus the Dogcow into iOS 27, bringing back a beloved piece of classic Macintosh history. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:10 pmI’m a believer in Touch after using Apple’s new PROLED MacBook Pro
Macworld Apple’s new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display isn’t just the best display ever put in a laptop. It’s also Apple’s first-ever touchscreen in a Mac and the first time macOS has supported Touch as an input option. It’s a feature we longtime Mac users thought we’d never see, mostly because Apple has a history of saying it won’t happen. But it has happened—and on the most expensive laptop Apple sells, no less. While the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display has plenty of other features to attract customers, which I will outline in my upcoming review, the touchscreen is one of the most interesting features to come to the Mac in years and is sure to be a major consideration for buyers when choosing which laptop to get. However, macOS with Touch isn’t the same interface that you can just reach out to control with your fingers. Apple has enhanced and optimized macOS to accommodate Touch, making the overall experience satisfying. Here are my observations after spending a few days with it. No lag or delay Apple did not simply take a Touch input sensor, slap it on top of the OLED, pack it all up, and ship it. For the optimal experience, the Touch sensor is incorporated into the OLED panel, just as it is with the iPad Pro. That makes it perform more like a tablet than a usual touchscreen laptop. Touch is very responsive, with no noticeable delay between a gesture and response.Roman Loyola/Foundry It also means there’s no lag when touching the screen. Tap the screen, and you’ll get an instant reaction from macOS: buttons, menus, sliders, icons, the Dock, you name it. Everything reacts the instant you touch it. UI clarity My major concern about the touchscreen MacBook Pro was whether Apple would do enough (or anything) to adjust macOS’s longstanding UI elements for Touch input. Some elements in macOS need to be larger to make them easier to touch; others need to be shifted to create more space; and still others need a complete rethink. A touch UI that demands cursor-style precision means you have to concentrate to do the most mundane of tasks. That’s tiring. Left: Contextual menu when using the trackpad. Right: Contextual menu when using Touch.Foundry In macOS 27.2 on the new MacBook Pro, Apple has enhanced macOS to accommodate Touch. Throughout the OS, elements appear when using Touch and return to the normal view when using a mouse or trackpad. The first thing you’ll notice is the set of traffic lights that appear in the upper right corner of windows to close, minimize, or expand windows full-screen, respectively. When tapped, the red, yellow, and green buttons magnify to make the target easier to hit. Even menu items adjust by expanding a bit to add space between the items so they’re easier to tap with your finger. Another example is checkboxes, which let you tap on the accompanying text to select as well as the box itself. Traffic lights are enlarged to make them easier to touch.Roman Loyola/Foundry UI confusion Almost all of the time, I can navigate through macOS just by using Touch. Apple thoughtfully considered the elements that I encountered to make them easy to touch, with one exception: video files. The ability to watch a tiny version of the video by clicking on the “Play” icon in the center of the video’s icon gets in the way of opening the file. Double-tapping to open the video file often resulted in the video playing in the icon, not actually opening the file. It’s one of the things that hasn’t been adjusted to accommodate Touch, and it needs a retool. I also found that the mindset for Touch on macOS is separate from iOS. My experience with Apple’s touch-based UI is mostly with iOS, so I thought that macOS Touch would work similarly. But Apple decided to stick to macOS conventions, as illustrated by opening an app. In iOS, opening an app is a single tap. In macOS, a single tap selects the app, just as a single click does with a mouse or trackpad. You need to double-tap to launch the app. Even enlarging the icons to 128-by-128 pixels didn’t make opening video files any easier.Roman Loyola/Foundry Gesture support Multi-Touch gestures on the Mac support the same gestures that are on the trackpad and, for the most part, your iPhone and iPad. It’s all smart and effortless, especially if you already use these gestures on a trackpad: Swipe with two fingers to scroll up, down, left, or right. Use three fingers and swipe left or right to switch desktops. A four-finger swipe up opens Mission Control. A four-finger swipe down opens App Exposé, etc. Pinch-to-zoom even works. Rotate, where you use two fingers in a rotating motion, also works, but this gesture was awkward for me to do on a standing screen. I think it’s easier to do on a trackpad or, say, an iPad that’s lying flat. Rotate gestures are supported, but not always comfortable to do.Roman Loyola/Foundry Screen wobble Apple re-engineered the MacBook Pro’s hinge to make the screen more stable while touching it. The hinge provides enough resistance when you’re pressing relatively softly against the screen. Push hard enough, and the screen falls back, but most of the time, you’re not going to need to push that hard. In the animation above, you can see the screen wobble as I do the rotation gesture, but it’s exaggerated since I repeated the gesture several times and inadvertently pressed harder than usual. If you tap lightly, you won’t see the display move, but most people will tap hard enough to see a wobble. However, my regular taps caused the display to shake slightly, which was noticeable but bearable. The wobble is significantly less than a regular MacBook Pro, however, and after the first few taps, I barely noticed it. Fingerprints It’s a consequence of using any touchscreen: the display will end up with fingerprints smeared all over it. Like an iPad, they’re not noticeable when the display is on, but when the display goes dark or turns off, ugh. It’s gross. Fingerprints are unavoidable.Roman Loyola/Foundry This is just a fact about touchscreens we have to live with. Even with Apple’s oleophobic coating, there just isn’t a practical way to prevent fingerprints from appearing at all. There are personal habits that can be practiced to minimize the mess: clean your hands before using the touchscreen, wipe your hands frequently, don’t eat while using a touchscreen, etc. Or you could use touch-friendly gloves, or even wear latex gloves (I tried it and it works), but that’s not practical (and it’s ridiculous). Have a microfiber cloth handy to clean the display; Apple unfortunately doesn’t include one unless you spring for the nano-texture coating, but they sell one for $9. Amazon sells a six-pack of Koala Lens Cleaning Cloths for $10. The MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display’s Touch works only with fingers, not with an Apple Pencil or any third-party stylus. Other than fingerprints, using your fingers doesn’t offer nearly the same precision as using a stylus, so it’s closer to using an iPhone rather than an iPad or a graphics tablet. A very good start Apple isn’t marketing the MacBook Pro as a Touch-first device. Rather, Touch is something users can turn to when the situation calls for it. But it’s promising nonetheless. This first version of the Mac’s Touch UI is smooth, reliable, usable, and even fun. It’s a good start, and I hope Apple invents ways to take advantage of Touch, evolving it beyond being a touch interface on top of macOS.02:49 pmBest early Black Friday deals deliver up to $250 off Apple Watch Ultra, Series 12
Early Apple Watch Black Friday deals are in full swing, with discounts of up to $250 off Apple Watch Series 12, SE 3, and Ultra models.Save up to $250 with early Black Friday Apple Watch deals - Image credit: AppleDeeper discounts have hit the Apple Watch lineup at Amazon as we inch toward Black Friday, with current and closeout models on sale at up to $250 off.Save up to $250 on Apple Watch Ultra Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:30 pmGet these JBL Bass with up to 76 hours of listening for just $47
Get new, open-box JBL Tune 530BT headphones for $46.99, with up to 76 hours of battery life, Bluetooth multipoint and USB-C quick charging. Charging cable not included. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:30 pmGet these JBL Tune 530BT headphones with up to 76 hours of listening for just $47
Get new, open-box JBL Tune 530BT headphones for $46.99, with up to 76 hours of battery life, Bluetooth multipoint and USB-C quick charging. Charging cable not included. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:30 pmGet these JBL Tune 530BT headphones with up to 76 hours of listening for just $47
Get new, open-box JBL Tune 530BT headphones for $46.99, with up to 76 hours of battery life, Bluetooth multipoint and USB-C quick charging. Charging cable not included. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:21 pmHow Apple's Personal Knowledge Graph learns about your life on Mac
A breakdown of Apple's Personal Knowledge Graph shows what your Mac and Apple Intelligence know about you and your life.An example of contextual Siri on MacThe upgrade to Siri AI added the understanding of personal context to Apple Intelligence. By pulling information from messages, emails, and photos, Siri can come up with answers to queries with contextual elements, such as knowing the name of your mother from a travel itinerary.However, Apple has been compiling data on its users for a lot longer, with macOS 13 doing so since 2022. In a breakdown by security researchers at Eighth Rank, the generation of a Personal Knowledge Graph in macOS is detailed, including the kinds of data it compiles and retains on your Mac. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:00 amThis $96 lifetime subscription lets you download shows from platforms like Netflix
Macworld TL;DR: Keeprix saves streaming videos to your Mac for offline viewing, and a lifetime subscription is $95.99 (reg. $159.99). Streaming apps let you download some titles for a flight, but those downloads can expire or hit a download limit before you watch them. For anyone who wants downloads to stay on their Mac, try Keeprix. This streamer downloader even has a lifetime subscription available for $95.99 (reg. $159.99). Keeprix saves videos pulled from popular platforms like Netflix, Diskey+, or even TikTok and saves them as MP4 or MKV files. Supported titles on Disney+, Apple TV+, and Max download in up to 4K. On compatible titles, Keeprix also keeps HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and 5.1 surround sound, so a movie keeps its picture and sound quality when you watch it offline. To save something, paste a link or find the video in the built-in browser. You can add several videos to a queue and let batch processing download them while you work on something else. Downloads play in any video player without ads, and they stay in your library permanently. Keeprix runs on macOS 12 or later and Windows 10 or later, and one subscription works on two computers. Downloads are for personal, non-commercial use only. Watch your favorite shows on your MacBook, even without Wi-Fi. Get a Keeprix lifetime subscription on sale for $95.99. Keeprix All-in-One Streaming Video Downloader: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.08:00 amTurn your iPhone into a document scanner with this lifetime subscription on sale for $35
Macworld TL;DR: Scan, edit, and sign documents on your iPhone with an iScanner lifetime subscription for $34.97 (reg. $199.90). There’s no shortage of scanner apps, but the good ones usually charge a monthly or yearly fee. If you’d rather pay once, try iScanner, a scanning and PDF app for iPhone and iPad. A lifetime subscription is on sale for $34.97 (reg. $199.90). Point your phone at a contract, a receipt, or a page of notes, and iScanner crops and straightens the scan for you. Text recognition works in more than 20 languages, so you get the words from a scan, not just a picture of them. You can edit and sign PDFs right in the app, too. Add your signature, fill in a form, cover up an account number, or combine several scans into one file. When you’re done, save it as a PDF, a Word or Excel file, or an image. Scans stay organized in folders, and you can lock private files with a PIN. A few extra modes come in handy as well, like scanning an ID or passport, reading QR codes, and solving math problems from a photo. Scan, sign, and send documents from your iPhone for one price. Until November 8, you can grab an iScanner lifetime subscription for $34.97. iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription (iPhone, iPad & Android)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.Saturday November 0710:30 pmChromagraph Camera is exactly the camera app I’ve been looking for on iPhone
Last week, movie director Rian Johnson announced a surprise new camera app for iPhone that reimagines what a smartphone photo should look like. Many people would agree that Apple’s iPhone photos are a tad bit overprocessed. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo introduced a new film texture option, but in my view, it’s a bit too exaggerated. Chromagraph Camera, on the other hand, feels pretty perfect. more…08:30 pmIndie App Spotlight: ‘CueFlip’ automatically turns the page for your sheet music
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. If you find yourself playing an instrument with sheet music, flipping the page often requires you to stop playing to turn the page. CueFlip solves that. You can teach it how you play a song, then it can turn the page for you whilst listening. more…07:11 pmHands-on: Anker’s 10K MagGo 2 Pro offers fast 25W MagSafe charging with a kickstand
Anker’s new MagGo Pro 2 power bank offers active cooling, 25W MagSafe fast charging, 10,000mAh of capacity, and a smart display – all in one package. Anker touts it as the fastest and coolest wireless power bank on the market. more…06:07 pmSennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless review: Great sound, outstanding battery life
Macworld At a glance Pros Excellent sound quality Firm bass Competitive price Improved noise-cancellation Cons 2.5mm line-in on headphones More expensive than previous model No travel adaptor Our Verdict The Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless combines excellent sound, firm bass, and improved noise cancellation with outstanding battery life. Its lightweight, padded design stays comfortable during long listening sessions, while USB-C and analog connections add flexibility. The AirPods Max still has an edge when blocking higher-frequency noise, but the Momentum 5 costs considerably less and lasts far longer between charges. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$399.95 Best Prices Today: Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless Retailer Price $399.95 View Deal Sennheiser 399.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide What are they? Comfortable wireless over-ear headphones with excellent sound, improved noise cancellation, and long battery life. Who are they best for? Travelers and frequent listeners seeking great sound and longer battery life for less than AirPods Max. Who should skip them? Bargain hunters who can save with the Momentum 4, or buyers prioritizing the strongest noise cancellation. The Momentum 4 was already one of our favourite over-ear headphones, and the new Momentum 5 provides a number of improvements that help to improve both sound quality and noise-cancellation. This update is a little more expensive though, now costing $399.95/£329.99, although the Momentum 4 is still widely available online with a reduced price of around $299.00/£199.00 so that’s still a good option if you’re looking for a bargain. Available in a variety of colours, the Momentum 5 looks very similar to its predecessor, with large earpieces that house 42mm drivers and are thickly padded for comfort. Despite the large earpieces, the headphone only weighs 290g – compared to 386g for Apple’s AirPods Max – so they’re light and comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time, and Sennheiser also includes a sturdy travelling case to protect the headphones when you’re out and about. Battery life is impressive too, lasting for around 57 hours even when using noise-cancellation – compared to just 20 hours for the AirPods Max – which makes the Momentum 5 a great option for long journeys. And, if the battery does run down then you can switch to wired mode, with both USB-C and 3.5mm cables included (although the 3.5mm cable has a 2.5mm jack for connecting to the headphones, which could cause problems if you lose the cable and need to buy a replacement). Bluetooth support has been updated for this model, stepping up to Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless/Adaptive, along with AAC for Apple devices, and support for Dolby Atmos spatial audio. The Momentum 5 is also certified for hi-res audio, and provides an impressive frequency response of 6Hz – 40KHz when using Bluetooth or a USB-C connection, which results in excellent sound quality. It digs really deep for the rumbling electronic bass effects on Max Richter’s Shadow Journal, while the spatial audio creates an atmospheric soundstage for the track’s hazy, ambient sounds. There’s clarity on the higher frequencies too, with the violins cutting through haze to add a sense of urgency to the piece. Switching to something heavier and harder, the Momentum 5 does a great job of balancing the sonic mash-up of Sing Along by Sturgill Simpson. The fuzzy guitar riffs have a head-banging power that drives the track forward, while the precise, ticking percussion is irresistibly catchy. The synths wail with dance-floor energy, and the bass drop toward the end has a real kick to it. The noise-cancellation has been improved as well. The Momentum 5 can now match the AirPods Max when it comes to blocking out low-frequency sounds such as the rumble of an aircraft engine. It does a good job with higher frequency sounds too, although the AirPods Max still has an edge in that area. Mind you, the AirPods Max are around $200/£200 more expensive so the Momentum 5 is really good value for money, especially with that outstanding battery life for long journeys. Should you buy the Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless? The Momentum 5 Wireless is a strong choice if you want excellent sound, effective noise cancellation, and enough battery life for long journeys. Its deep, firm bass brings energy to electronic music and rock, while clear higher frequencies keep instruments distinct. The lightweight design and generous padding also make it comfortable for extended listening. For Apple users, AAC support, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, and USB-C audio provide useful flexibility. Noise cancellation matches the AirPods Max for low-frequency rumble, although Apple’s headphones retain an advantage with higher-frequency sounds. The Momentum 5 counters with a considerably lower price and around 57 hours of battery life with noise cancellation enabled. At $399.95/£329.99, it offers a compelling balance of sound, comfort, and endurance. However, bargain hunters should consider the Momentum 4, available for around $299/£199. The improved sound and noise cancellation make the newer model appealing, but the older headphones remain a good budget option.