11 tech giants – but not Apple – have signed up to an anti-scam initiative
Eleven tech giants and major retailers have signed up to a new anti-scam initiative ahead of a United Nations global fraud summit. The Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud recognizes the growing use of AI by criminal gangs to create more convincing scams, and pledges cooperation between the companies to combat this … more…

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BenQ MA270S review: Studio Display specs for a whole lot less
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Great image and text quality Height-adjustable stand is standard Several connectivity options Cons No built-in webcam 70Hz max refresh rate may not be high enough for gamers Our Verdict If you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch display, take a look at the BenQ MA270S. It’s a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display with excellent image quality and more diverse connection options. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$999 Best Prices Today: MA270S Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket BenQ has been doing a great job with its displays geared towards Mac users. I’ve reviewed the MA270U and the MA270UP and recommend them. But those 27-inch displays do have one specific feature that may be a no-go for some customers: They are 4K displays, not 5K like the Apple Studio Display. Most people will be fine with 4K, but for others, that’s a deal breaker. Good news: BenQ now has a 5K offering, the new MA270S. It basically looks the same as the others, except it’s now a direct competitor to the high-resolution Studio Display. More good news: the MA270S lives up to the standard set by its two predecessors, with a great combination of image quality, features, and price. Specifications Size27 inchesGlass frontNano Gloss PanelAspect ratio16:9Native resolution5120 by 2880Panel type/BacklightIPS/LED backlightResponse time5 msContrast ratio2000:1Refresh rate70HzColor depth10-bitBrightness450 nitsDimensions with stand (horizontal)Highest height: 22.1 by 24.2 by 8.7 inches (560.1 by 613.8 by 220.2mm) Lowest height: 17 by 24.2 by 8.7 inches (430 by 613.8 by 220.2mm)Weight with stand19.05 lbs (8.64 kg) BenQ MA270S: Design and build The MA270S takes its design cues from its 4K brethren. It’s almost exactly like those two displays, with a plastic case and bezels that are less than 1mm. The one major difference is that BenQ moved the Visual Optimizer Sensor to the lower left of the front of the display. While it disrupts the previously clean line, it doesn’t stand out. You see it, but it’s not distracting. The MA270S’s base has a protective pad for resting an iPhone, AirPods, etc.Foundry The Visual Optimizer Sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on the room’s lighting. Placing it on the front allows the brightness to be closer in tune with what the user perceives. It’s a thoughtful change. A few months ago, BenQ released the MA270UP, which implements the company’s Nano Gloss Panel. The MA270S also uses the same panel, so it’s a glossy display and not available in matte. Apple’s Studio Display is also glossy, but it has a Nano-texture glass (matte) option that increases the price by $300. I didn’t experience any glare or eye fatigue while using the MA270S, issues that can occur while using a glossy display. Glossy is preferred by users who want colors that are vivid and black reproduction that is deep–some may say a matte screen, by comparison, has a washed-out appearance. BenQ MA270S: Ports The MA270S has the following ports: Two HDMI 2.0 ports One 35W PowerDelivery USB-C port One 96W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port One 15W PowerDelivery Thunderbolt 4 port Two USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 7.5W) One USB-C downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps, 15W) 3.5mm headphone jack Macs can connect via HDMI, USC-C, or Thunderbolt.Foundry MacBooks can connect to the display via HDMI, USB-C, or Thunderbolt, and I used all three types without any issues. However, if you connect via HDMI, your MacBook does not charge while connected–HDMI connections don’t provide power. If you want to use the display as a hub, you need to connect the MacBook to USB-C or Thunderbolt. BenQ MA270S: Image quality The MA270S produces pleasing images of great quality, and the text looks sharp. In the Macworld office, I usually use a 4.5K iMac to produce the Macworld Podcast in the studio, and when I switched to a MacBook Pro connected to the BenQ display, I could easily see the upgrade in quality. The blacks are richer, colors are rich, and text looks crisp. This display, like the other MA270 displays, is impressive. One small upgrade that the MA270S offers over the other BenQ displays is a 70Hz refresh rate, slightly higher than the standard 60Hz (which Studio Display uses). I didn’t notice a difference in general everyday use, but those with a more discerning eye might notice the difference over other monitors when scrolling or watching videos. The MA270S’s refresh rate is fixed at 70Hz, so if you want a faster rate (90Hz or 120Hz), you’ll need to look elsewhere. BenQ MA270S: Price The MA270S is priced at $999, and the company is offering a special deal where if you buy two displays, the second display is 20 percent off. This offer is good during the March pre-order period. At $999, it’s significantly cheaper than the Apple Studio Display. Keep in mind that if you want a height-adjustable stand with Apple’s display, you have to pay an extra $400–a feature that’s standard on BenQ’s display–which doubles the price. The MA270S tilts, swivels, and pivots 90 degrees, though you won’t get a webcam or Spatial Audio speakers. USB and a headphone jack are located on the bottom of the display for easy access.Foundry Should you buy the BenQ MA270S? If you’ve been holding out for a 5K 27-inch display, take a look at the BenQ MA270S. It’s a good alternative to the Apple Studio Display; the MA270S matches its image quality, while offering more options as a connection hub. One clear advantage the Studio Display has is a built-in webcam, which is missing from the MA270S, but the Studio Display is prohibitively more expensive if you need a height-adjustable stand. Apple released the 2nd-gen Studio Display in March 2026, and it’s not all that different than the previous model. It still costs $1,599, and the upgrades are minor: Thunderbolt 5 and a better camera. It uses the same 5K, 60Hz panel as before, so unless you want a built-in webcam or Thunderbolt 5, there’s no reason to choose it over the MA270S. Now read: Best Mac monitors: The Mac compatible displays we recommend

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AI Apps Generate Revenue but Struggle With Retention
AI-powered apps are driving higher conversions and revenue, but retention remains weak. High churn, shorter trials, and rising costs expose a gap between early excitement and lasting value. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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How a MacBook Neo bought for a high school student is worth $50k to Apple
One of the biggest mysteries ahead of the MacBook Neo launch was the price. We’d seen various estimates in the $599 to $799 range, and while we’d certainly hoped for that lower-end figure, experienced Apple watchers weren’t necessarily expecting it. Reaction to the price was universally positive, all the more so as it breaks the $500 barrier for education users. School and college students can buy the machine for just $499 … more…

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How Apple secures MacBook Neo's camera indicator without a hardware light
Instead of a secure, dedicated indicator light, MacBook Neo just shows a green icon when the camera is in use. Yet years of software engineering effort means the camera "exclave" still can't be hacked.MacBook Neo secures its camera in softwareFor the right audience, the MacBook Neo is a superb buy, plus you can repair it, you can even modify it a little. But reportedly, what you can't do is hijack the camera even though the MacBook Neo lacks the usual hardware indicator light.John Gruber reports in his Daring Fireball blog that the MacBook Neo's on-screen green icon indicator turns out to be pretty much as secure. He quotes developer Guilherme Rambo saying that "the software-based camera indicator light... runs in the secure exclave part" of the processor. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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AirPods Max 2 may look old, but these big upgrades are inside
Macworld It’s been a long time since Apple was able to release something without the whole internet knowing about it beforehand. But we were surprised by the announcement of AirPods Max 2, a product we weren’t really expecting anytime soon. AirPods Max were released in December of 2020, and received a minor USB-C update with new colors in 2024. AirPods Max 2 changes very little from a design standpoint. It’s the same headphones, with the same speakers and microphones. But Apple has replaced the H1 chip with the H2, and that brings with it a lot of improvements and new capabilities. Here’s how the AirPods Max models stack up AirPods Max vs. AirPods Max USB-C vs. AirPods Max 2 AirPods Max got a minor update to USB-C in 2024, but the new H2 version adds a lot on top of that. Here’s a look at everything that’s different bettern the three versions: AirPods Max (Lightning)AirPods Max (USB-C)AirPods Max 2ReleasedDecember 2020September 2024April 2026Price$549$549$549ColorsSpace Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, PinkMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, OrangeMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, OrangeSize7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inchesWeight13.6 ounces13.6 ounces13.6 ouncesProcessorH1H1H2ConnectionLightningUSB-CUSB-CWired AudioLightning-to-3.5mmUSB-to-3.5mm, USB-C (with software update)USB-to-3.5mm, USB-CLow-latency audioNoYes (USB-C only)Yes (USB-C only)Lossless audioNo24-bit, 48 kHz (USB-C only)24-bit, 48 kHz (USB-C only)Noise CancellationYesYesYes (1.5x better)TransparencyYesYesYes (More natural)Adaptive AudioNoNoYesConversation AwarenessNoNoYesSiri support“Hey Siri”“Hey Siri”“Hey Siri” and just “Siri”Live TranslationNoNoYesVoice IsolationNoNoYesPersonalized VolumeNoNoYesCamera remoteNoNoYesBattery LifeUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledUp to 20 hours w/ANC enabledSmart CaseYesYesYes Three years after their introduction, Apple updated AirPods Max to swap out the Lightning port for USB-C and refresh the colors. It only impacted charging, though, and was hardly worth mentioning. Then, in the iOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 update (along with a firmware update), Apple added USB-C audio with enabled 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with “ultra-low latency” when plugged in via USB-C. AirPods Max 2 appear to be identical to the USB-C updated version, but by swapping out the H1 chip for the newer H2, you get a lot of benefits. Apple says noise cancellation is up to 1.5x better, transparency mode sounds more natural, and you get all the other features common to H2-enabled AirPods: Adaptive Audio, the ability to say just “Siri” instead of “Hey, Siri,” Voice Isolation, Live Translation, and so on. They also come in the same five colors with the same magnetic Smart Case. The price has remained $549 throughout, but they’re almost always on sale from third-party retailers, with sites like Amazon usually selling them for $449 or less, and we’ve seen as low as $399 during sales events. Apple AirPods Max 2 Price When Reviewed: $549 Best Prices Today: $549 at Apple

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Apple’s real intelligence? Winning the waiting game
Macworld Apple is behind on AI! We all know it! It was in all the papers. But Horace Dediu wonders if Apple didn’t pull off the most brilliant move in corporate history. That move? Not dumping hundreds of billions into AI. Just tens of billions. The Macalope has been suggesting much the same thing for a while now and Dediu questions the spend Apple’s competitors are making on AI. Amazon is spending $200 billion this year on AI data centers. Google, $185 billion. Microsoft, $114 billion. Meta, $135 billion. Combined: $650 billion. Well, surely it’s all going swimmingly, though: “Meta planning sweeping layoffs as AI costs mount” We’ve gone from “AI does everything so we can now lay off all our staff!” to “We have to lay off all our staff because AI is sucking all our resources.” It’s almost as if AI is being as an excuse for layoffs. Ha-ha! That would be silly! Because, in reality, we know that there really is no problem that cannot be solved by laying off vast swaths of the people who have devoted their careers to you. It’s just math. Speaking of math, it seems Apple’s spreadsheets are coming up with different numbers than everyone else’s. Dediu notes: …Apple’s capital budget is still a modest $14 billion… It’s not nothing, but it’s not close to the vast sums these other companies are throwing at it. And who is the big beneficiary of all this spending? Nvidia. Apple is refusing to transfer its cash flow to Nvidia. Curiously, it believes that its cash flow belongs to its shareholders, not to Nvidia’s. It’s weird how many recent tech trends have relied on Nvidia’s chips: crypto, NFTs, the blockchain, and now AI. Two years ago, the Macalope joked: The Macalope doesn’t consider himself someone prone to conspiracy theories, but he would not be surprised to find out years from now that Nvidia has been running a powerful psychological ops campaign that dreams up technologies that require its boards to run and then convince venture capital firms to invest in them. Was it a joke? He’s not even sure anymore. Dediu notes: The hyperscalers are now spending 94 percent of their operating cash flows on AI infrastructure. Eeeyow. There are places where AI is reaping some real gains in productivity and utility, such as programming, data analysis, and accessibility. And then there are all the other places where these companies are trying to jam it like a slippery herring into a carburetor. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.Foundry Why are you trying to put it in there, Phil?! It doesn’t belong in there! You’re a terrible mechanic! The Macalope doesn’t know why he brings his car to you! Examples: Customer support? Customers don’t want it. Virtual assistants? Enhanced Siri may be late but enhanced Alexa is out there stumbling around looking for someone to hold its beer. A study showed that in the workplace, far from helping, AI is causing “brain fry”. The Macalope doesn’t really know what that is but it doesn’t sound good. And then there’s generative AI. At least that’s all fun and games, right—oh nooo… “Teens sue Elon Musk’s xAI over Grok’s AI-generated CSAM” (Grok and X, by the way? Still on the App Store, in case you were wondering.) Ultimately, however, Apple seems to be mostly taking the same stance with AI that it took with Dropbox. “You’re a feature, not a product.” So far, that seems 100 percent correct. Every attempt to make AI a product has failed or is having a lot of trouble getting off the runway. “OpenAI, Jony Ive AI hardware faces reported delays” “Uh, so far every prototype we’ve made has exploded inside the hangar. One of them exploded before we had even made the device. The artist’s rendering exploded. I don’t even know how that happens.” The one thing Apple definitely did do wrong was promising Apple Intelligence features it could not deliver and may not be able to any time soon. If Apple had simply said “Our devices are ready to fully support on-device models from whatever vendors want to work with us to retain privacy. Our software will also hook into cloud-based AI for customers who want more.” it might have saved itself some trouble. Apple didn’t miss the AI revolution. It just bet that the winners won’t be the ones who build the infrastructure. All this spending is predicated on big demand for AI products in the future and right now that’s a real uncertainty. On the plus side, can you imagine the first Spirit Halloween that sets up shop in a former AI data center? Just epic.

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HomeKit Weekly: Aqara releases its first Matter camera alongside a new Apple Home enabled wired doorbell
Aqara just announced two major additions to its smart home security lineup today. They have released the Camera Hub G350, which is the company’s first Matter-certified camera, along with the Doorbell Camera G400. I always look forward to seeing what Aqara does next, as they have been a great way to build out a low-cost smart home for years. These two devices bring so many needed features to the Apple Home ecosystem. more…

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Native apps with a cloud backing
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle 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. In this episode of Apple @ Work, AJ from Daylite joins the show to talk about native macOS apps, local AI compute, and the future of macOS software. more…

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Visual Studio Pro 2026 is only $43 with this coupon code
Macworld TL;DR: Use code MARCH15 to get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $42.49 through March 29 (MSRP $499.99). Macs are fantastic machines for development, but if you build software that has to run everywhere—Windows, Linux, cloud containers, enterprise environments—you’ve probably crossed paths with Visual Studio at some point. A new version just dropped with deeper AI integration, improved performance, and more powerful collaboration tools. What’s new in Visual Studio 2026? Visual Studio Professional 2026 is a 64-bit development environment, designed to handle massive codebases and complex projects without slowing you down. You can build everything from mobile apps to web platforms and containerized cloud services. Some highlights include: AI-assisted coding with IntelliCode: suggests code based on patterns in your project, helping you write faster and reduce repetitive boilerplate. Cross-platform development tools: build and debug .NET or C++ apps targeting Windows, Linux, and containers, making it useful for mixed-device teams. Live Share collaboration: jump into real-time coding sessions without teammates needing to clone repos or install dependencies. CodeLens insights: see commit history, tests, and authors directly in your editor so you understand your codebase faster. Get Visual Studio Pro 2026 for $42.49 with code MARCH15 (MSRP $499.99). Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026See Deal Want to see more deals? Visit our shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple retires a legendary iPhone
The iPhone 5 joins Apple’s obsolete products list. It was a landmark device that introduced the Lightning port and a new design. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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YouTuber upgrades MacBook Neo to 1TB, posts ASMR video of the process
YouTube creator DirectorFeng is back with another ASMR-themed video in which they attempt to upgrade the storage on a new Apple device. Watch it below. more…

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Apple’s new AI model recreates 3D objects with realistic lighting effects from a single image
Apple researchers have created an AI model that reconstructs a 3D object from a single image, while keeping reflections, highlights, and other effects consistent across different viewing angles. Here are the details. more…

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Apple has announced 8 new products this month
Apple unveiled and launched seven new products in the first half of March, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more. Two weeks after the first product news, Apple returned with one more surprise announcement. more…

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Mimestream 1.9.15
Makes a few adjustments to the Private Bush beta notification feature. ($49.99 annual subscription, free update, 12.5 MB, macOS 12+)

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ChronoSync 12.0.1
Maintenance update with improvements and bug fixes for the synchronization and backup tool. ($49.99 new, free update, 102.7 MB, macOS 10.14+)

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LittleBITS: Why You Got Multiple Copies Last Week
Adam Engst recounts what went wrong when some subscribers received up to 10 copies of TidBITS last week. Unfortunately, we don’t know why it happened and can only hope it doesn’t recur.

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Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo just broke the laptop market
Apple has just unleashed its most disruptive laptop in over a decade with the MacBook Neo, a strikingly affordable $599 machine… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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WhatsApp is working on ‘guest chats’ for people without accounts
After months of testing on Android, Meta is bringing guest chats to beta testers on iOS and the web. Here’s how it will work. more…

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iOS 26’s new Phone app has a feature I don’t ever want to go without
Apple overhauled the Phone app in iOS 26 with a new design and added several powerful features, including a new call screening option that I don’t ever want to go without. more…

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