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- Thursday May 23
- 7 mins agoApple considering multiple sizes for all-screen foldable MacBook
After years of rumors, Apple's all-screen folding MacBook may be getting closer to reality, and could also be offered in multiple sizes.A generated image of a foldable MacBook conceptThe folding MacBook, which could resemble a large iPad with a foldable mid section, may be a few years away from release. Even so, Apple is preparing its supply chain for its production.In a Thursday supply chain report from Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is considering a 20.25-inch display option. However, it may also use an 18.8-inch display panel as well. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums20 mins agoAffinity update adds QR code generator, variable font support
Affinity 2.5 is here, with a handful of new tools including a QR code generator, some user experience upgrades, and support for ARM on Windows.Affinity's new QR code generatorAffinity, known for its line of creative software geared toward photographers and designers, has rolled out Affinity 2.5, the first update since the company was acquired by Canva in March.The new update brings a new QR code generator to all three programs, allowing users to quickly add codes to their documents. The codes can be scanned to perform actions, such as visiting websites, initiating phone calls, sharing contact info vCards, or launching FaceTime or WhatsApp. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums20 mins agoMicrosoft working on Word for Mac freeze fix, here are two workarounds
Over the last couple of months, we’ve seen more and more Mac users deal with serious lag and freezing in Microsoft Word. Now a Microsoft employee has confirmed a fix is in the works as well as recommending a workaround while we wait. more…23 mins agoSick of wimpy portable chargers? Try this beast.
If you're sick of wimpy chargers, maybe it's time to try the beastly new Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Portable Charger Power Bank. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)24 mins agoArc Search for iPhone goes conversational with ‘Call Arc’ feature
Today in the latest update to Arc Search for iPhone, search is becoming more conversational. The new ‘Arc Search’ feature aims to replicate the dynamics of talking on the phone, providing Arc users with a more voice assistant-like experience. more…33 mins agoAll-screen M5 MacBook with foldable display and Vision Pro price now rumored for 2026
Apple is working on all-screen foldable devices. Unlike its competitors, however, its focus seems less on foldable smartphones and tablets, and instead on an all-screen foldable laptop. Ming-Chi Kuo has previously reported that Apple was developing a 20.3-inch MacBook device for 2027, but today the analyst has shared several key new details about the futuristic MacBook model. One such detail is that Apple is now eyeing an earlier 2026 launch for the product. more…45 mins agoMajor Apple supplier TSMC expects annual revenue growth of 10% in semiconductor industry | Mac Daily NewsMajor Apple supplier TSMC expects annual revenue growth of 10% in semiconductor industry
Taiwanese contract chipmaker TSMC, a major Apple supplier, on Thursday forecast an annual revenue growth of 10% in… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.54 mins agoGo from song idea to full track in seconds with AI music generator
Got great song ideas or lyrics? AI-powered music generator Supermusic can transform them into fully realized tracks in an instant. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)1 hour agoUber surge pricing in effect all the time, say drivers; opaque pay
Uber surge pricing is supposed to be applied to especially busy times and places, when riders may prefer paying a substantial premium to not being able to get a ride at all. But drivers are claiming that Uber now effectively applies this pricing model all the time – and keeps most of the difference … more…1 hour agoBolt brings iPhone tech to spine surgery: Vanguards of Health Care
Bolt Navigation has shrunk the use of a navigation system for spine surgery into an Apple iOS device, an iPhone, utilizing… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.1 hour agoShare a link with quoted text in Messages [Pro Tip]
If you want to share a link with quoted text in Messages, there’s an easy but hidden way to do it in Safari. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)1 hour agoPixelmator Pro revamps image editing with AI masking tools
The new Pixelmator Pro 3.6 for Mac update concentrates on masking, a key way of selecting objects to edit or delete now being sped up by AI.Notice how the right of the image has been removed using the new masking toolsLong-standing Mac image editor Pixelmator Pro gains significant updates multiple times a year, but this newest one is specifically a revamp of a tool at the heart of the app. While there are many ways to select part of an image to work on, the app's masking feature was the quickest to use — but then sometimes fiddly to get just right.Choosing the Quick Selection tool and dragging over an image still selects parts of it, but an on-screen set of masking tools also appears. With those, users can quickly fine tune what has been selected. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:45 pmThe best educational apps on iPad for kids and young students
The iPad can be an important tool in a parent's playbook for instilling a love of learning early on. These are some of the best educational apps for younger learners.Students using iPads in elementary schoolWe don't intend to add to the problem of "TV and computing devices as babysitters" that has generally been viewed as detrimental, but some screen time is unavoidable. Instead, the key is balance — and when screen time is needed, make sure it's full of high-quality, age-appropriate content.An iPad mini — especially one in a rugged child-proof case — can be a vital part of early learning before a child is ready to start public school or homeschooling. It can also play an important role in assisting young students in and after school. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:32 pmFuture iPads and iPhones could tell stressed users to calm down
Apple is researching how to bring its Apple Vision Pro physiognomy sensor technology to give iPads and iPhones the ability to detect stress in a user.What an iPad could do when it detects that its user is stressedBack in the 1980s, if an original Mac went wrong, it would play the sound of a crash, and display Susan Kare's bomb icon. It was a piece of whimsy that you really, really, really did not appreciate when you'd just lost your work.Decades on, Apple could be about to make a similarly enraging move, though this time with good intentions. Apple wants to add a new health feature, where a device such as an iPad can tell when you're having a bad day. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:30 pmApple may soon have to allow third-party app stores in Japan too
After European legislation forced Apple to allow third-party app stores across 27 countries, Japan is planning to introduce a similar legal requirement. The antitrust legislation is currently being debated in the Japanese parliament, but is expected to be approved by the end of June … more…11:47 amApple’s supply chain could include ‘blood minerals’ from eastern Congo
International lawyers representing the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo have said that Apple’s supply chain could include “conflict minerals” or “blood minerals.” The terms are used to refer to minerals sourced from conflict zones, in which armed groups use forced labor, and the proceeds are used to buy weapons for armed conflict … more…11:15 amiPhone/iPad retro game emulators: How to find and play the best classic games
Macworld In early April, Apple made a surprise decision to allow retro game emulators in the App Store. With them, you can now play old classic games from early game consoles and arcades, but the legalities around doing so are a little complicated. Here’s what you need to know about retro game emulation on iPhone and iPad, including some of the top apps, how they work, and what to do about ROMs. What is retro game emulation? The processor in your iPhone (or laptop or home PC) is many times more powerful than the processors used in old classic arcade games or home consoles like the NES, SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, etc. That means today’s devices are capable of playing older games without breaking a sweat—which is where game emulators come in. Game emulators have been around for a very long time on PCs, where enthusiasts have used the power of modern processors to made software versions of the processors and systems used in old game machines. Modern iPhones have been capable of this for a long time, but Apple has forbidden them for years due to its App Store terms. Now, emulators are allowed, but they have to follow all applicable laws regarding copyright and game distribution. That means that the emulator you download is kind of like getting a virtual GameBoy or NES, without any games. What are ROMs? ROM stands for read-only memory. Old game cartridges, like old arcade games, stored all the actual game code and art in banks of ROM memory. (These days, whether game data is stored in ROM chips on a cartridge or CD, retro game enthusiasts have taken to calling all old games “ROMs.”) ROMs are basically packages of all the game data, without the game system. It’s the equivalent of dumping all the data from your old Super Mario Bros. or Metroid cartridge into a ZIP file. Without the game system to play them, they’re more or less useless. There are lots of sites out there where you can download ROMs, and some legal but many are not. A lot of ROM distribution lies somewhere in a grey area. Where can I get ROMs? The legality of downloading ROMs is complicated. In most cases, it is a copyright violation to make available the data from a game, and usually to download it as well. So the site you’re downloading Pokemon from is probably breaking the law, and you may be breaking the law to grab it as well. There are totally legal and free ROMs, though. Romhacking.net is a site where enthusiasts hack together new custom ROMs for retro game systems, and release them for free. It has a list of free and legal ROMs. But these are new games, not the popular games you played 30 years ago. A common legal grey area is whether or not you can download the ROM of a game you already own. For example, if you own an old Legend of Zelda NES cartridge, can you find a site that has a copy of it and download it? Legally, you would be well within your rights to take a special piece of hardware that reads all the data off the cartridge and makes a personal copy of it, not for distribution (a process called “ROM dumping”). Any site you download a ROM from, even if you own it, is probably breaking copyright law by distributing it. But downloading the game you own is a bit of a legal grey area. Most enthusiasts acquire ROMs that “fall off a truck,” so to speak. It doesn’t take a lot of searching to find ROMs to download, legal or not. Be careful: ROM packages and sites are a common vector for viruses and malware. One legal and safe way to get ROMs legally is to buy retro game collections, most of which are actually emulators wrapped in a package with a set of ROMs. For example, the SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection on Steam has about 50 of the best Sega classic games available for around a dollar each, or in a deeply discounted bundle. If you install them and look at the game directory, you’ll see a directory called “uncompressed ROMs” that has all the games you bought. They’re yours, legally purchased, so you can use them in any emulator you want. To use ROMs with game emulators on iPhone or iPad, you’ll have to either download them into the Files app on your iPhone or put them in a cloud storage location (like iCloud Drive) that can be accessed by the app. The apps don’t provide direct access to ROMs themselves, however, you have to load your own. What are the best emulators for iPhone and iPad? Just after Apple changed the App Store guidelines to allow emulators, a few were quickly released and pulled. But since then, several more projects have landed and they provide a good experience. More are on the way. Here are the key projects to be aware of. Delta The Delta game emulator has been around for years, even on iPhone. It wasn’t allowed in the App Store, so they built their own project called AltStore to distribute it via sideloading. Popularity has obviously surged since appearing in the App Store. Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins. Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins.Delta Delta has great Nintendo support and fantastic controller skins.Delta Delta Delta currently supports the following systems: Nintendo Entertainment System Super Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo 64 Game Boy (Color) Game Boy Advance Nintendo DS Sega Genesis (beta) It’s an incredibly full-featured product. It supports fast-forward speeds, save states, cloud sync of save states to other devices, and even downloads box artwork for the games you load. In addition to virtual on-screen controllers it supports all kinds of physical controllers, including Xbox and PlayStation controllers, MFi controllers, Nintendo Switch joycons and Pro controllers, and even Bluetooth or wired keyboards. You can even AirPlay your games to your TV! Just start screen mirroring in Control Center and the game will be on the TV while the virtual controller will be on your iPhone. If you want to emulate Nintendo games, Delta is the place to start. A dedicated iPad version is on the way too. It’s just a matter of making all the system and controller skins and squashing a few more bugs. RetroArch The interface and controller skins could use a little work, but RetroArch is a very capable emulator. In fact, it’s a front-end for a lot of open source emulator projects (called “cores”), and includes too many to mention here. RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app. RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app.RetroArch RetroArch’s interface is a little rough but it supports lots of systems and has an Apple TV app.RetroArch RetroArch RetroArch includes cores to play games from too many systems to list them all here. There’s support for old Atari and Intellivision systems, Commodore 64 and Amiga, PC Engine, Neo Geo, lots of Nintendo systems, multiple Sega systems, and even PlayStation and PlayStation Portable. There are sometimes multiple different cores for an individual system, and loading up your ROMs isn’t as seamless as it could be, but RetroArch will play a lot more than most other emulators in the App Store. Oh, and there’s even a native Apple TV version! PPSSPP The core for this one is included in RetroArch, but if you want to just play PlayStation Portable (PSP) games you might have a better experience with the PPSSPP app. It has a built-in “Homebrew store” where you can download and play homemade PSP games, and the PPSSPP site has some help with how to dump PSP games on your own or prepare dumps by turning them into .ISO or .CSO files. PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch. PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch.PPSSPP PPSSPP has a “HomeBrew Store” to play homemade games, and an easier interface than RetroArch.PPSSPP PPSSPP Provenance Provenance is not yet on the App Store, but it has been available for some time on AltStore. Like RetroArch, it’s a front end for multiple emulation cores. The App Store release will support nearly as many console systems as RetroArch, but not the older computers like Amiga and Commodore 64: Atari 2600 Atari 5200 Atari 7800 Atari Jaguar Atari Lynx Bandai WonderSwan Mattel Electronics Intellivision NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx 16 (CD) NEC PC-FX NEC SuperGrafx Neo Geo Pocket (Color) Nintendo GameBoy (Color) Nintendo GameBoy Advance Nintendo N64 Nintendo NES/Famicom + FDS Nintendo PokeMini Nintendo SNES Nintendo Virtual Boy Sega 32X Sega Game Gear Sega Genesis/MegeDrive (CD) Sega MasterSystem Sega Saturn Sega SG1000 Sony PSX Sony PSP It’s generally very well regarded, with lots of features to customize the cores and performance, automatic downloading of metadata and art for games in your library, support for MFi and iCade controllers, and supposedly very good performance. There’s a Test Flight beta for Patreon supporters, but the full App Store release should be coming soon, and with an Apple TV app as well. Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon. Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon.Provenance Provenance is well-regarded on AltStore, and will debut on the App Store very soon.Provenance Provenance Gaming, iPhone11:11 amX Likes will be made private, but Likes count will still show
The social network formerly known as Twitter has confirmed that X Likes are to be made private, so only the author of the post can see who has liked it. The company says that this is to protect people who are afraid to publicly Like “edgy” content, though users have mixed views … more…10:47 amBing down for many; Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT search too
Microsoft’s search engine Bing is down for many, with Copilot similarly unavailable for affected users. DuckDuckGo and ChatGPT search are also impacted, as they use the Bing API. The issue appears to have started in the early hours of the morning ET, and was partially acknowledged by Microsoft a few hours later … more…10:30 am9-core vs. 10-core M4: Is it worth paying more for the iPad Pro?
Macworld Apple did an interesting thing when it revealed its new M4 iPad Pro: of the four storage options available, the 1TB and 2TB models come with an M4 chip with 10 CPU cores. The lower-priced 256GB and 512GB iPad Pros have a CPU with nine processing cores, one fewer than the higher-storage models. It’s the first time Apple has offered an M-series CPU with an odd number of cores. Tying the additional CPU core to higher storage tiers is something of an up-sell. Someone who might not not want to pay Apple’s high storage prices might be swayed by the more powerful chip. It’s an intriguing tactic, but the question is, how much improvement does that single additional core provide? Well, that’s what benchmark tools are for. Using Geekbench 6, we gathered numbers for the 9- and 10-core M4 and compared the results. What we found is that the additional core offers a nice little bonus, especially if you’re doing heavy-duty multi-core processing tasks. But for daily, mundane jobs, you won’t feel the difference. M4: 9-core vs. 10-core CPU Geekbench 6.3