Apple inching closer to ChatGPT deal with OpenAI
Talks between Apple and OpenAI have advanced so far, that a deal is reportedly close to completion that may bring ChatGPT generative AI technology to iOS 18 in some fashion.ChatGPT is in the App Store nowA report published late on Friday is light on details. However, it does claim that Apple and OpenAI are "finalizing terms" to use ChatGPT in iOS 18.In the report, Apple is also said to still be in talks with Google for Gemini. It's less clear how far along those discussions are. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Get this waterproof speaker for cheaper than on Amazon, only $59.99
Macworld The TREBLAB HD77 Outdoor Rugged Wireless Speaker has a long-lasting battery, excellent sound quality, and a tough build. This portable speaker could be great for your next camping trip, and you can get one on sale for $59.99.  This wireless speaker comes with DualBass and TWS (True Wireless Stereo) technology. It produces 360-degree sound coverage, and the 5,200mAh battery could last up to 20 hours, depending on your usage. The PlayXTend energy-saving feature could stretch this speaker’s battery to last even longer. The HD77 is durable. IT features an IPX6-rated waterproof design, which means it’s protected against high pressure water streams from any angle, but you should not submerge it completely. Rain, humidity, and sweat are not a problem. The shockproof body is resilient against falls, and a strap and carabiner are included for easy portability.  Make calls with the built-in mic, connect from up to 33 feet away using Bluetooth 5.0, or hook up an AUX cord for wired listening.  Get the TREBLAB HD77 Outdoor Rugged Wireless Speaker on sale for $59.99. That’s a better price than Amazon, but it might not last.    TREBLAB HD77 Outdoor Rugged Wireless Speaker with TWS Support Only $59.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.  Accessories

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Why is my Mac fan so loud? How to fix an overheating Mac
Macworld If your Mac is beginning to sound like it has a jet engine spinning up inside it’s not just annoying, it may also be a sign that something is wrong. There could be an issue that is causing your Mac to overheat, or you might have a faulty fan. Here’s what to do if those fans keep whirring even if nothing appears to be wrong. Why is my Mac’s fan so loud all of a sudden? Having the fans going at full pelt isn’t a sign that things are necessarily wrong with your Mac, as the reason they’re installed in the first place is to cool down the insides of your computer by increasing the airflow around the components. If you’re running computationally intensive applications such as HD video editors or high-end games, then your Mac will be working very hard, which in turn creates heat. The fan sensor will notice that the temperature is rising and immediately spin up the fans to help keep the system from cooking itself into oblivion. So, if you find the noise levels suddenly increase when you’re compressing a 4K movie about your recent holiday or playing a particularly frantic game of League of Legends, then it’s actually a good thing. Of course, if you’re not doing any of these things, then there are a few other factors to consider before calling Apple support. How to stop a Mac from overheating 1. Check the CPU usage The fans in Macs will usually kick in as a precautionary measure when the CPU is under a heavy load, such as with the tasks mentioned above. But, if you’re not sure what’s triggering the fans, it’s best to open the Activity Monitor and see the apps that are hogging all of your CPU resources. To do this, hold the CMD key and press the Space Bar to open Spotlight. Now search for Activity Monitor and select it from the list that appears. Make sure that the CPU tab is selected, then look to see which apps are at the top of the %CPU column. If it’s not essential, you can try closing it to see if that stops the fans. Click on the process and then click on the X above to stop it. 2. Check your room temperature It’s important to consider environmental factors when diagnosing a problem with fans. If it’s a hot day and there is no airconditioning in your home, or if you’ve got the heating whacked up in your room, then the ambient temperature could have a detrimental effect on the performance of your Mac. Ideally the room temperature should be between 50 – 95 Fahrenheit (10 to 35 degrees Celsius). Move to another room or stop using your Mac if the area you are in is hotter than that. This could be even more challenging when using intensive software, as it’s much harder for the fans to cool down the computer if the room temperature itself is high. If you can open a window, turn down the thermostat, or use a room fan to move air around, then your iMac, Mac mini or other Mac should be able to cope a little better. To alleviate the issue, you can try using a ventilated tray like the TeckNet Cooling Pad (£21.99/$23.99) under a MacBook. To monitor your room temperature you could try the SwitchBot Thermometer ($24.99). 3. Make sure the air can circulate It’s likely that your MacBook is placed directly on a surface, this will mean that the air cannot circulate around it. We suggest using a dedicated MacBook stand, which will at least allow air to circulate underneath it. Using a stand will raise the Mac off the flat surface of a desk or lap and increase airflow around the chassis. One of our favourites is the Twelve South Curve ($59.99/£49.99). 4. Check your vents are clear of blockages Foundry Another reason your fans could be going like billy-o is if the vents themselves are blocked, as this will make it difficult for hot air to leave the interior of the device. On a MacBook Pro, you’ll find vents along the back edge (where the display hinges are found) and the side edges just beyond the USB-C ports, while MacBook Air vents are all situated along the top edge of the chassis near the hinges. Mac mini owners should check the underside of the device, as this is where cooler air is drawn into the chassis, plus you’ll need to ensure that the vents at the back are clear so that the heated air can be safely dispelled. On iMacs and iMac Pros, the vents are situated on the back and bottom edge, while the Mac Pro has vents on the front and back. Make sure that these areas aren’t blocked by items on your desk or a cushion if you’re working on the sofa. You could try using a hoover to remove any build-up of fluff or dust, but be sure to keep the nozzle a little distance away from the device casing to avoid any damage. 5. Make sure you are using an official adapter IDG You should also be using an Apple adaptor, and Apple recommends that you plug your adaptor into the MacBook before plugging it into the mains. 6. Reset the SMC IDG If you have done all of this and are still having trouble with your overheating Mac, then consider resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) .This is generally seen as a bit of a last resort for fixing most Mac problems before heading to the Apple Store. Here’s how to reset the SMC. 7. Keep macOS updated Foundry When Apple releases software updates to macOS, it often includes bug fixes and tweaks to better performance. There could be an OS issue that affects the fans and if so, the fix will be included in an update. When updating macOS, the computer will need an internet connection. It will also need to restart, so save any open files before doing an update. It’s also a good idea to back up your Mac. To check for a macOS update, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. If one is available, it will appear here and you can do the installation. 8. Check for malware IDG “Malware” is a term that refers to “malicious software,” which includes viruses, trojans, and other software that intrudes your Mac for nefarious reasons. Malware can cause your Mac to run intensive processes, which in turn increases the operating temperature and makes the fans go on. Macworld has several guides to help with malware, including a guide on whether or not you need antivirus software, a list of Mac viruses, malware, and trojans, and a comparison of Mac security software. How to test a Mac’s cooling fans If you want to see if your Mac’s fans are running properly, you can try running tests through Diagnostic mode on your Mac. The tests will check your hardware and if issues are found, will point them out and refer you to an Apple Store for service. Foundry Foundry Foundry This requires booting into Diagnostic mode, which can be done by booting into Mac Recovery mode first. You need an internet connection, Here’s how to do it. How to boot into Diagnostic mode: Intel Macs: Turn on your Mac and hold down the D key. Then go to step 3.M-series Macs: Turn on your Mac by pressing and holding down the power button. The Mac will show startup options. Don’t click any of the icons. Instead, hold down Command-D on the keyboard. The Mac will say “Continue holding to start diagnostics.” Hold down these keys. The Mac will reboot and you can let go of the keys. The Diagnostics Loader will appear and you’ll see an “Initializing Diagnostics” screen with a list of languages. Select a language and click OK. The Diagnostic & Repair screen appears. Click Run Offline to start testing. The diagnostic tests will run and take a few minutes. If an issue is found, it will be noted at the end of the test. A “Get started” link leads you to an Apple website with a guide to the reference codes used in the diagnostic. The website will offer suggestions on how to address any issues. How to clean a Mac’s fans Over time, it’s possible that your Mac’s fans can get clogged up with dust and other bits and pieces, which can add to the noise they make when spinning. If you’re handy with a screwdriver (you’ll need a pentalobe one) and have a can of compressed air to hand, you can take to bottom off of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or Mac mini and give it a few quick blasts of air to dislodge any detritus that has taken up residence inside the case and fans. You can find detailed instructions on iFixit on how to clean a MacBook’s fans. Be very careful not to catch any wires or touch any of the circuitry, as you don’t want a static charge to blow any of the processors or other important components. Just beware that opening up your Mac could void your warranty. How to stop a Mac’s fans If your fans have gone haywire, then we recommend downloading the free Macs Fan Control (free) software, which allows you to manually control and monitor the cooling system. With this software you can change the RPM value and fan speed in relation to the temperature sensor so that the fans don’t kick in until your Mac is REALLY hot – but be aware that this could damage your Mac. How to check my Mac’s temperature If you think your Mac is overheating then you may want to check the temperature. One way to do this is to install an app called Temperature Gauge Pro (aka TGPro) from TunabellySoftware, $20/£19.20 (currently discounted to $10/£9.50). Temperature Gauge Pro enables you to monitor the temperature inside your MacBook. While the numbers sounds particularly high, a temperature of the Mac’s CPU even at 90 degrees Celsius is nothing to worry about. What you need to worry about is if the physical temperature of your MacBook is uncomfortably warm, and if the fans appear to spin up for no apparent reason. There could be a huge range of issues at fault here. We also discuss How to check your Mac’s internal temperature and keep it cool in a separate article. Does my Mac have an overheating problem? If you’ve followed all of the steps above and still can’t quell the sound of spinning, there might be a hardware problem with the Mac. Your Mac also comes with built-in monitoring software that can check your hardware for any faults. For instructions on how to use this, to take a look at the official guide to the Apple Diagnostics tools. Should you discover that there is an issue, you’ll want to contact Apple support and book an appointment at the Genius bar. While there you might be tempted with trading in your old model for a new one, so be sure to read our Mac buying guide so you get the one that best suits your needs. We have a separate article where we discuss everything you need to know about getting Apple products repaired.   Mac

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iPad Pro with M4 chip boasts impressive performance jump compared to just-released M3 MacBook Air
The M4 is looking like a very strong generation for Apple Silicon. According to leaked Geekbench scores likely posted by reviewers who already got their hands on the new iPad ahead of next week’s embargo, with the M4 chip scores about 3700 in single-core CPU benchmark, and around 14500 in multi-core. That compares to ~3100 and ~12000 for the M3 MacBook Air, which Apple only just shipped in March. The new iPad Pro bests the Air by about 20%, an impressive generational jump, at least in these benchmark results. more…

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Learn something new when you stream Curiosity Stream, now under $180 for life
Macworld Are your favorite streaming platforms simply not cutting it with their content these days? You can change up your streaming experience for the better with Curiosity Stream. Dubbed “Netflix for documentaries,” Curiosity Stream is a streaming service that provides lifetime access to thousands of unique and educational documentaries and docuseries. Through May 12, lifetime access is only $179.97 (reg. $399). Founded by John Hendricks, the mastermind behind Discovery Communications, Curiosity Stream is geared toward those who crave learning and entertainment. You’ll get unlimited access to thousands of original documentaries and docuseries focused on science, art, history, nature, space, etc. Check out titles like Out of the Cradle, Planet of Treasures, The History of Home, and much more. Curiosity Stream’s content is so impressive that its documentary, Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places, won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction. You can stream anywhere with this platform, even offline. Enjoy documentaries and docuseries in 1920×1080 HD resolution and bookmark exciting content to watch later.  You’ll also never run out of things to watch, as Curiosity Stream regularly updates its roster with fresh, exciting content. Enrich your mind every time you stream with a lifetime subscription to the Curiosity Stream Standard Plan, now just $179.97 through May 12 at 11:59 PM Pacific. That’s the best price online!   Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription Only $179.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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Apple plans to power data centres with M2 Ultra chip
Apple plans to use its advanced M2 Ultra chips in data centers to run complex AI queries, according to a report by Bloomberg. Simple queries will continue to be processed on-device. The move is expected to happen before the release of next generation M4 series chips. It was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple nears deal with OpenAI to power iOS 18’s AI magic
Apple could soon finalize a deal with OpenAI to power some of iOS 18's AI features, ahead of WWDC24 next month. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Bloomberg: Apple finalizing deal with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT features to iOS 18
Apple is finalizing an agreement with OpenAI to bring some of its technology to the iPhone this year, according to a new report from Bloomberg. With this deal, the report explains that Apple will be able to offer “a popular chatbot” powered by ChatGPT as part of its AI-focused features in iOS 18. more…

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Apple Will Revamp Siri To Catch Up To Its Chatbot Competitors
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the New York Times: Apple's top software executives decided early last year that Siri, the company's virtual assistant, needed a brain transplant. The decision came after the executives Craig Federighi and John Giannandrea spent weeks testing OpenAI's new chatbot, ChatGPT. The product's use of generative artificial intelligence, which can write poetry, create computer code and answer complex questions, made Siri look antiquated, said two people familiar with the company's work, who didn't have permission to speak publicly. Introduced in 2011 as the original virtual assistant in every iPhone, Siri had been limited for years to individual requests and had never been able to follow a conversation. It often misunderstood questions. ChatGPT, on the other hand, knew that if someone asked for the weather in San Francisco and then said, "What about New York?" that user wanted another forecast. The realization that new technology had leapfrogged Siri set in motion the tech giant's most significant reorganization in more than a decade. Determined to catch up in the tech industry's A.I. race, Apple has made generative A.I. a tent pole project -- the company's special, internal label that it uses to organize employees around once-in-a-decade initiatives. Apple is expected to show off its A.I. work at its annual developers conference on June 10 when it releases an improved Siri that is more conversational and versatile, according to three people familiar with the company's work, who didn't have permission to speak publicly. Siri's underlying technology will include a new generative A.I. system that will allow it to chat rather than respond to questions one at a time. The update to Siri is at the forefront of a broader effort to embrace generative A.I. across Apple's business. The company is also increasing the memory in this year's iPhones to support its new Siri capabilities. And it has discussed licensing complementary A.I. models that power chatbots from several companies, including Google, Cohere and OpenAI. Further reading: Apple Might Bring AI Transcription To Voice Memos and Notes Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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iPhone 16’s new Capture button: Everything we know
While the iPhone 15 Pro saw the addition of the Action button, the entire iPhone 16 lineup will reportedly get an all-new “Capture button” this year. This will give users a new way to quickly take pictures using their iPhone 16 camera, with a few added bonuses. Here’s everything we know so far more…

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XGIMI offering special Mother’s Day discounts on its 1080p/4K projectors
XGIMI is known for its premium home and portable projectors. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, the company is offering special discounts on its 1080p and 4K projectors, so you can enjoy time with your family watching your favorite movies and shows or viewing photos together with the best image quality. more…

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How to leave an iMessage group text on iOS
Macworld Quick show of hands: How many of you have gotten stuck in a multi-person iMessage session that caused your phone to go “buzz” every five seconds?  Yep. We’ve all been there. In the old days, in order to escape the constant buzzing, you had to turn on iOS’s system-wide Do Not Disturb feature or switch off all notifications for the Messages app. Now, it’s easy enough to just leave the group chat or silence it. Steps to Leave iMessage Group Chat on iPhone Open the Messages app. Tap the group conversation you want to leave. Tap the group name at the top of the conversation. Scroll down and tap Leave This Conversation or Delete and Block This Conversation. Foundry Foundry Foundry Blocked conversations are moved to the Recently Deleted folder, where you can recover them. Silence a group chat without leaving it On the same screen you’ll see an option to Hide Alerts. Just toggle that off if you want to stay in the conversation but don’t want to get any more notifications. You can also silence a Messages thread from the main Messages screen (group text or not): Open the Messages app. Locate the conversation you want to silence and swipe left…but not too far or you’ll delete it. Tap the bell icon to silence that message thread. Foundry Foundry Foundry iOS, iPhone

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Bookends 15.0.2
Adds barcode scanning capabilities to the reference management tool. ($74.99 new, free update, 114.3 MB, macOS 10.13+)

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Mactracker 7.12.15
Adds detailed information about the latest MacBook Air models and several legacy Apple products. (Free, 216.8 MB, macOS 10.12+)

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Fantastical 3.8.16
Brings a bevy of bug fixes to the calendar app. ($56.99 annual subscription, free update, 66.4 MB, macOS 11+)

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BusyCal 2024.2.2
Displays ongoing and upcoming events with a countdown timer in the menu bar. ($49.99 new, free update, 67.6 MB, macOS 10.15+)

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Apple Apologizes for Tone-Deaf “Crush!” iPad Pro Ad
After significant backlash, Apple has apologized for and pulled its “Crush!” ad showing creative and cultural objects pulverized by an industrial press. Was the ad just an ill-considered effort to shock or an all-too-accurate metaphor for today's tech industry?Read original article

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Apple plans to smarten up Siri with generative AI infusion
A new report suggests that Apple's Siri virtual assistant is undergoing a major revamp with the integration of generative AI… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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How to call someone who blocked your number on iPhone
Macworld It’s possible to call someone even if they’ve blocked your number on their iPhone, because the iOS blocking feature relies on your caller ID being visible… and you can hide that fairly easily. Whether it’s advisable, ethical or even legal to do so is another matter. In this article we explain how to hide your caller ID and bypass an iPhone call block – but this is for emergencies only. Please don’t get yourself in trouble with the law. Note: The iOS feature Silence Unknown Callers makes it so that the method discussed here probably won’t work. If the person you are calling has turned on this feature and your number is not in their Contacts then their phone will not ring. Read about how to silence unknown callers here. What is iOS call blocking? iOS 7 brought in a useful new feature: the ability to easily block phone numbers from nuisance callers. We explain how to do this in our article How to block a number on iPhone. This feature has been retained in every iOS update since. But if you’re the one who’s been blocked (to find out, read How to tell if someone has blocked you), is there any way to override the block and push your call through in an emergency? If you fell out badly with a loved one but now need to pass on urgent news about a family illness, for instance. Or if you want to return the engagement ring to your ex-fiancé but he was so upset he blocked your number. In fact it’s incredibly easy – worryingly so, really – to bypass iOS’s number-blocking feature. But before we explain how it works, a quick final warning. Is it legal to bypass a call block? The method we explain involves hiding your caller ID, which is a simple feature available to anyone. This in itself is completely legal. However, it’s entirely possible that use of this method to call someone after they have made it clear they don’t wish to be contacted will get you into legal hot water somewhere down the line; it could be regarded as harassment. That’s before we even get to the ethical side of things. Simply put, we don’t endorse the use of this method in any but the most extreme of emergencies. Please respect people’s privacy, and realize that if you carry on ringing someone after they have made it clear that they don’t want you to, and have even blocked your number, you’re heading in the direction of a restraining order. Macworld takes no responsibility for the legal consequences of harassing behavior. Hide your caller ID Before we start, be warned that while this method gets you past the block itself, it’s no guarantee that they will actually pick up. Your number won’t appear, but the iPhone will say that the caller ID has been hidden. This looks suspicious to the best of us, but to someone who recently blocked a nuisance caller it’s a huge red flag. With those caveats out of the way, here’s how to call someone who has blocked you on their iPhone. You need to disguise your caller ID, which will prevent the receiving iPhone from knowing which number is calling. Open the Settings app. Scroll down and select Phone. Select ‘Show My Caller ID.’ Slide this to the off position. Now you can call the blocking iPhone and it will ring normally, since it doesn’t know you’re the person it blocked. Whether the owner will pick up such a suspicious-looking call is debatable. Other possible ways to call someone who blocked your number There may be some other ways to hide where you’re calling from. Here are some suggestions, though they aren’t all simple and quick: You can stop your caller ID being revealed by using the relevant code for your country. For instance, *67 in the U.S. or 141 from a UK landline. Use a different phone number with a second SIM–many modern iPhones have dual SIM (or eSIM) capability. You may have to set up a new number with your cellular provider first. See our guide for setting up dual eSIMs on iPhone. Use a virtual number through a service like Google Voice or Zoom. Setting up a whole new phone number, either on a second SIM or eSIM or with a virtual phone provider, is a lot of effort just to maybe get through to someone who might not even answer a call from a number they don’t recognize, so consider it a last-ditch effort. Is it possible to actually block someone, so they can’t call? This article is written from the point of view of someone who has been blocked but needs to get in touch in an emergency. But the rest of us are likely to be horrified by how simple can be to bypass a call block. Is it possible to set up a call block that actually works? Yes it is. For one thing, simply understanding the method outlined in this article gives you a better chance of defeating it: if you’ve blocked someone unpleasant and then start getting calls with the ID hidden or from an unknown number, don’t pick up. But it’s possible to do better than that. We’ve updated our ‘How to block numbers on your iPhone’ article to include a section on dealing specifically with the method outlined in this article: strategies for blocking or ignoring callers who known to hide their caller ID, including third-party apps and subscription services. Read How to block people who hide their Caller ID for more info. Are they using Do Not Disturb mode? There’s one more possibility that we haven’t addressed so far in this article: the contact who isn’t picking up your calls or answering your texts may be using Do Not Disturb rather than blocking you individually. Do Not Disturb is a bit like a temporary way of blocking everybody. The symptoms of Do Not Disturb are similar in many ways to those of being blocked but the workarounds if you need to get in touch in an emergency are slightly different. Calling at different times of day, for instance, and calling twice within a short of space can both get through a DND barrier but would never be helpful in bypassing a call block. For more information in working out whether your friend is using Do Not Disturb mode, and how to call them anyway, read How to tell if someone is using Do Not Disturb. iPhone, Personal Software

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RenAIssance: How Apple will drag Siri into the modern era
Apple's digital assistant Siri is poised to receive a considerable upgrade in the near future, involving an awful lot of generative AI and machine learning changes.Siri already has AI elements, but it can be betterSiri was once considered a great introduction to the iPhone and the Apple ecosystem. Over the years, the shine certainly wore off the digital assistant, with Google Assistant proving to be a highly capable rival.Since the rise of ChatGPT and other large language model (LLM) AI initiatives in recent times, there's been an AI gold rush. With Siri seemingly staying static and being passed by by rivals, there is now an expectation for Apple to make considerable changes to its smart feature. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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