The iPad Air only exists to sell other iPads
Macworld Here’s a fun thought experiment: what would Apple’s tablet range look like if you removed the iPad Air? Just the basic iPad at one end (accompanied by the outdated and unappealing iPad mini, which we’ll largely ignore for now) and the iPad Pro at the other. How would you approach that as a retail offering, and how would it affect your buying decision? The answer, for me at least, is that it wouldn’t be a range at all. It would just be two separate and isolated products with little to connect them. It would be like comparing the Mac mini and the Mac Pro. Or the Apple Watch SE and the Vision Pro, for that matter. There would be no point comparing their specs or weighing up their pros and cons, you would simply look at the one which is obviously aimed at you and buy it if the price is right. If you want a sofa computer you buy the standard iPad; if you’re a hardcore creative you buy the iPad Pro. It would make the decision a no-brainer. That feels like a good, thing, right? Surely Apple wants the buying decision to be a no-brainer, so there’s as little friction as possible to slow the process from “want iPad” to “own iPad.” Surely it wants to make things easy for the customer. Or maybe it doesn’t. Because here’s the thing: That isn’t just a thought experiment, it’s reality. For 99 percent of iPad buyers, there may as well just be those two options. For most of the people who ask for my advice, the “correct” choice is the basic iPad, because it’s more than capable enough for their requirements and (following a timely price cut) is great value. Very few iPad owners need a super-fast processor, a high-end screen, or a terabyte of storage. And for the small market of creative professionals who do need those things, the Pro makes a lot more sense than the Air, because it’s more future-proofed, delivers better color reproduction, has Thunderbolt, and so on. If the iPad is your work computer, you don’t skimp on the premium features. In most of Apple’s product categories, the inbetweeners are a canny choice, blending features and value for money. But when it comes to iPads, because of the binary way people use them, you should decide whether features or value are the priority for you and then lean fully into that. Give these people Air If that’s the case–if the iPad Air is irrelevant to most customers–then it raises the question of why Apple bothers to have an Air at all. And here at Macworld we have a theory. I said earlier that an Air-less iPad range just seems like two unrelated products–okay three, but honestly, the iPad mini is not worth your consideration until it gets an update–that have so little in common that no customer would bother to compare them. But what the Air does is bridge the gap between the standard iPad and iPad Pro and bring a sense of coherency to the range. Indeed it makes the range exist as a range, rather than standalone products. The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro. The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro.Petter Ahrnstedt The iPad Air has the same sized screen as the 10th-gen iPad and 11-inch iPad Pro.Petter Ahrnstedt Petter Ahrnstedt With the Air nestled in the middle, it becomes much more tempting to load Apple’s iPad comparison page and start doing head-to-heads on tech specs. And then the intrusive thoughts begin. An anti-reflective coating sounds nice. I like the look of that new Magic Keyboard, maybe I should get an iPad that supports it. What’s Wi-Fi 6E? Do I need 16GB of RAM? How many CPU cores are worth getting? In other words, the existence of the iPad Air introduces a whole lot of indecision that can actually help Apple, because it encourages customers to spend more on things they want but might not need. And for customers who are sensible and stay in their lane, it helps to reinforce the value for money of the standard iPad at the lower end and the capabilities of the iPad Pro at the top. For those who are considering a vanilla iPad, the iPad Air acts as a price anchor, quietly establishing in the customer’s mind the idea that $599 is the sort of price somebody might reasonably pay for a new tablet. In comparison to that, $349 seems like an absolute steal, especially for the same size screen and very similar design. And in comparison to the Air’s M2 processor, 6.1mm chassis, and laminated LED screen (all of which we know are excellent, because this isn’t the budget iPad we’re talking about), the Pro’s M4, 5.3mm chassis, and tandem OLED screen look truly world-beating. Which, let’s be clear, they are… but it’s nice to make sure customers appreciate what they’re getting for their money. I have no doubt that Apple sells plenty of iPad Airs, but the product’s value to Apple isn’t limited to the number of units it shifts. It’s all about the way it makes customers feel about the other iPads. And that sense of confusion you feel when you look at the iPad range might not be an accident after all. iPad

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Buyer taken for $1,000 by fake Apple badge on eBay
A vintage Apple employee badge on eBay was proven to be a brazen forgery — but not in time to prevent it being bought.The fake employee badge as advertised on eBayThis isn't the first time that someone has sold a fake related to Apple, but usually it's hardware. Now an eBay seller auctioned off what he or she described as Steve Jobs's badge, but was for Sherry Livingston, employee #10 — or rather, it wasn't.It was first spotted by Mastodon user Eric Vitiello, who initially believed the eBay listing. However, the details of the badge and of the accompanying hand-drawn map of Apple's office layout were then debunked. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Display complex data, numbers, and more with Microsoft Visio’s diagramming tools, just $19.97
Macworld While you may understand complex numbers or ideas for certain projects, the rest of your team may need a little help visualizing your findings to make informed decisions. If that’s the case, look no further than Microsoft’s top-rated diagramming software, Microsoft Visio Pro 2021. Designed for streamlined diagram creation and enhanced visualization, Visio is helpful for professionals in a variety of fields. Now, lifetime access is less than $20 until May 22. If you need help developing a visual presentation, Visio offers over 250,000 shapes to help users get started. There are countless shapes, stencils, and templates in Visio’s library, which can help you translate data into easier-to-understand concepts. With Visio, you can develop flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, and more. Architects and designers can even benefit from this software, as it allows for floor plan creation. If you’re a project manager or entrepreneur, Visio is helpful for brainstorming through problems and discovering solutions. Use fishbone diagrams or SWOT analysis to troubleshoot and plan ahead. For even greater accessibility, Visio can automatically generate org charts from Microsoft sources like Excel and Exchange. Enjoy easier diagram creation with lifetime access to Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows, now just $19.97 until May 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific.   Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows Only $19.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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Apple TV+ shows and movies: Everything to watch on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV+ offers exclusive Apple original TV shows and movies in 4K HDR quality. You can watch across all of your screens and pick up where you left off on any device. Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month. Here’s every Apple original television show and movie available now on Apple TV+, as well as the latest trailers … more…

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iPhone 16 Pro Max to get new battery that could last longer
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get a new battery that has a greater energy density than before, which means a longer life if Apple keeps the battery to the same size.A battery being taken out of an iPhone (Source: Apple)As the iPhone 16 range is believed to be starting mass production ahead of its September launch, most rumors have concentrated on the screen sizes and camera bumps in the range.However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that there is to be a quite radical redesign of the battery, specifically in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. As well as an increased energy density of the battery cells, it will also be encased in stainless steel instead of the previous aluminum. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Is your Mac sluggish or running hot? Here’s what to do
Macworld It’s happened to you, probably many times over the years: you’re using Safari, and it starts to feel like molasses. You’re working among several apps, and you start to have to wait for seconds or longer as you switch between them, adding frustration. Or you touch your laptop, and say, “Yowch!”–it’s much hotter than expected. What’s going on? The complex interplay of Mac hardware, macOS software, third-party background utilities and add-ons, and foreground apps can result in unexpected outcomes, like CPUs running hot, memory crunches, and sluggish performance. You can’t always pull one thread and untangle the problem. But you can pursue a few straightforward strategies to make things better without wasting lots of time. Try these actions the next time your Mac acts up. Quit and relaunch your browser Think back to the days in which browsers had windows only, no tabs, and didn’t automatically reopen tabs and windows after a restart. You could lose so much research progress. That’s far in the past, and now there’s essentially no penalty to quitting and relaunching. Browsers can experience memory leaks, in which they allocate some of your Mac’s volatile or active memory (RAM) and don’t release it when they’re finished. This can happen in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and others–Chrome was once a notable memory leaker and has gotten better, but Safari often swells, too. I’ve found sometimes that a single non-foreground tab might be burning 1GB, according to Activity Monitor, your best friend when it comes to examining system resource usage. Make sure you will have your tabs and windows reloaded: In Safari, make sure that Safari > Preferences > General has “Safari opens with” set to “All windows from last session.” In Chrome, go to Chrome > Settings > On Startup and choose “Continue where you left off.” In Firefox, go to Firefox > Preferences > General and check “Open previous windows and tabs.” Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser). Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser).Foundry Make sure you retain your open tabs and windows before relaunching Safari (or any browser).Foundry Foundry If your browser is sluggish or you’re having a system-wide problem, quit and relaunch the browser and see if things get better. I’ve found that solves my problems a good three-quarters of the time. Find the culprit The Activity Monitor app takes underlying system technical data and presents it in a much more friendly fashion. (Find it in Applications > Utilities.) In Activity Monitor, I look primarily to the CPU, Memory, and Energy tabs to figure out when macOS or a single app is slow, or I’m having peculiar problems with responsiveness. Click a column head in each tab to sort by the worst offender. In CPU, click % CPU until the arrow next to it is pointing down. In Memory, click the Memory column. In Energy, click the Energy Impact column. If your Mac is responding poorly, CPU and Memory can help. You might see the app you’re using or another app using a tremendous percentage of current CPU activity or a lot of memory. The chart at the bottom of the window shows overall load compared to available computational power for CPU, and overall memory in use for Memory. If macOS needs more memory than it has in the form of RAM, it can swap not-in-use parts of apps and data to the SSD, resulting in higher “memory pressure,” which is color-coded in that tab’s chart. The Energy tab can also be a useful tool in identifying an app consuming lots of resources and if you’re wondering why your laptop’s battery is draining so quickly. One evening my M1 MacBook Air was nearly scalding to the touch, even though it had been sleeping. Checking Activity Monitor led me to a tiny app that had, for no reason, gone out of control. I quit it, and it hasn’t tried to use that much CPU power since. Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if it’s not active. Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if it’s not active.Foundry Double-click the Safari item in Memory and you can see all the bytes required for each open tab, even if it’s not active.Foundry Foundry Try switching to a troublesome app and using File > Quit to exit. If it’s a utility, bring up its menu item and choose Quit or Exit; you may have to hold down the Option key while choosing the menu, or bring up another dialog to exit the app. If that fails, you can force quit the app or menu bar utility: Press Command-Option-Esc, select the app, and click Force Quit. Hold down the Option key and Control-click/right-click the app’s icon on the Dock and choose Force Quit. In Activity Monitor, select the item in the list and click the X in an octagon icon at the left end of the toolbar. When prompted, click Quit to try a normal app exit or Force Quit if that doesn’t work. Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly. Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly.Foundry Use the Force Quit Applications dialog to kill apps quickly.Foundry Foundry This may alleviate the problem instantly, and you can get back to work (or fun). If you’d like to monitor system usage and receive automated alerts while seeing CPU and other statuses at a glance, I recommend buying either TG Pro (Tunabelly Software, $10) or iStat Menus(Bjango, $11.99), both of which are Macworld Gems. Restart your Mac It sometimes seems like Mac users feel that restarting their computer is a moral failing, a blight on Apple, or a huge time waster. While I can’t absolve Apple of falling short of perfection, I would like to absolve you of shame and disabuse you of concerns about time. As with Safari, macOS has come a long way in dealing with both intentional and forced restarts. Typically, most apps store data as you’re making changes or you’ve internalized the Command-S shortcut to save frequently. When you choose   > Restart, you can opt to check “Reopen windows when logging back in,” which automatically reopens all apps when the system comes back up, almost always restoring you to their previous working state, either because of built-in defaults or because they consult the system-wide preference at   > System Preferences > Desktop & Dock (disable “Close windows when quitting an application”). Some apps may require that you manually reopen project files. Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box. Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box.Foundry Ensure your Mac will reopen your apps after restart by checking that box.Foundry Foundry The time it takes to restart and be back to a functioning macOS, all ready to go, has dropped substantially over the last decade. I can remember a time that it might take as long as 15 minutes for the restart, plus all the apps and background utilities loading and settling down. If it worked, which it didn’t always. With a late-model Intel Mac with an SSD startup volume or any M-series Mac, you will likely lose about 1 to 2 minutes before you’re ready to go. That’s a worthwhile investment if you’re cursing at your screen or waiting seconds for actions to complete that should happen instantly. I have recently hit the point a few times with Sonoma (though not with the very latest update, fortunately) where something went deeply off-track in macOS. Not only did apps not fully quit when exited (normally or via Force Quit), but the menu-based restart failed. Remember that, in those circumstances, you’ve got two fallback plans if you can’t restart normally. Warning: Both options instantly restart your Mac, so you may lose unsaved data if all your apps have saved their files or ones with unsaved data are unresponsive. If you can launch Terminal, do so and type sudo reboot plus Return, then enter your password when prompted. Failing that, hold down the power button on your Mac for about 10 seconds or until you see it shut off, such as its power indicator becoming unlit. Wait just a couple of seconds, then press the button to start up. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. Besides email, you can submit your question to Mac 911 via the form below. Submit your question to Mac 911 Submit a form. Mac, MacOS

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Store up to 1TB’s worth of files, photos, and more on FolderFort, now $80 for life
Macworld Cloud storage is a must-have for your small business, personal projects, and day-to-day needs. However, it can be difficult to find a trusted cloud storage provider that offers sufficient space without requiring recurring fees. FolderFort is the solution to your cloud storage needs, providing users with reliable storage, secure file encryption from BackBlaze, and more. Now, a lifetime 1TB plan is only $79.99 (reg. $251).  With 1TB from FolderFort, you’ll have plenty of space for everything from important personal files to family vacation photos. It has an incredibly user-friendly interface for easy organization and storage and is compatible with PCs, Macs, and other mobile devices. FolderFort lets users create unlimited workspaces and add however many people you’d like to access your workspaces, files, etc. You can also easily create shareable links for your files and folders, as well as customize them. Make public links so anyone who has it can view your media. Or, you can restrict viewing access for certain users. If you ever have issues with FolderFort, you can reach out to customer support on the phone or through email during all hours of the day, seven days a week. Invest in a reliable cloud storage solution when you grab lifetime access to the FolderFort 1TB Storage Pro Plan, now just $79.99, the best price on the web.   FolderFort 1TB Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription Only $79.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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iPhone 16 Pro Max battery could get an energy density upgrade
Apple might equip the iPhone 16 Pro Max with a higher-density battery for longer runtime, encased in stainless steel for enhanced protection. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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How to repurpose an old iPad and make it useful again
After upgrading an iPad, you may want to find a use for your old one instead of disposing of it. Here are ways you can make your older iPads more useful.Reuse your old iPads.When your iPad gets old and you want to get a new one, there are a number of ways you can reuse it to keep it useful. In our interconnected world, information is everywhere, and having a second or even a third iPad can come in very handy.And, even when an app updates cutting off your iPad that may be stuck on iOS 15 or iOS 9, there's still a way to get older versions of software for it. You may have to get the newer version of an app on your new device first, but Apple keeps older versions around. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Goodnotes for iPad updated with Apple Pencil Pro support
Along with the launch of the new and M4 iPad Pro, Apple has also introduced a new that has the same design as the Apple Pencil 2, but features new sensors and Find My support. The company has added new APIs to iPadOS so that developers can take advantage of these new features, and Goodnotes is one of the first apps to do just that. more…

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Apple Music reveals next 10 albums on 100 Best Albums of All Time list
Apple Music this week announced the release of its 100 Best Albums of all time, a celebratory list of the greatest records ever… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Popular game emulator PPSSPP now available on the iOS App Store
We’ve seen a lot of game emulators showing up on the App Store after Apple changed its guidelines to allow such software. Following the release of Delta, Gamma, and RetroArch, the popular PPSSPP (a PSP emulator) is now available on the App Store for iOS users. more…

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Western Digital launches world’s first 6TB 2.5-inch portable HDDs
Western Digital launched with 2.5-inch portable hard drives that, for the first time, can hold 6TB of data. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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iMessage appears to be experiencing an outage
Apple's iMessage service is experiencing a rare outage on Thursday that is being reported by many users across the United States.iMessage is experiencing an outageThe iMessage service is one of Apple's most used, with millions of messages going out in seconds. When it experiences an outage, it is an immediate effect and easily discovered by services like Downdetector.Starting at about 5:40 p.m. EST, reports started flooding in of slow to send or failed messages via iMessage. Downdetector is still seeing a spike in complaints as the outage is being discovered and reported. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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PSA: iMessage is currently down for some users
If you’re having problems trying to use iMessage this Thursday night, it’s not just you. Many users are reporting that iMessage is currently down around the world. However, Apple is yet to acknowledge any issues. more…

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This AI tool is the Swiss Army knife of the internet
Let AI create words and images for you. Grab a lifetime subscription to the Taskio AI productivity tool for just $16.97 (regularly $540). (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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AAA title ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ launches on Apple Silicon Macs on November 15th
Ubisoft's AAA title "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is coming November 15th on Apple Silicon Macs via Apple's Mac App Store… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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New iPad Pro released, iOS 18 accessibility features, Apple AI servers
Benjamin gives his thoughts on his brief experience using the new M4 iPad Pro hardware, while Chance ponders a purchase. Apple previews some exciting new iOS 18 accessibility features, and we gist more insight into Apple’s AI plans with reports that the company is already hosting Apple Silicon chips in its server farms. And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance react to the increasing likelihood that John Ternus becomes Apple’s next CEO, in the fullness of time. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Incogni: Limit public access to your private information, mitigate the risks of identity theft, and keep your data from being sold. Use code “happyhour” at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: incogni.com/happyhour Sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/HAPPYHOUR. more…

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PSA: Time is running out to claim up to $349 from Apple’s iPhone 7 lawsuit settlement
If you owned an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus that suffered audio issues, your time is running out to claim a portion of Apple’s $35 million class action lawsuit settlement. Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit last year, and the deadline for affected iPhone 7 users to make a claim is fast approaching: June 3. more…

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Oberon Technologies delivers Apple Vision Pro application to train nuclear facility employees
The Apple Vision Pro price tag is a small price to pay for a more effective and safe way to train workers in hazardous environments… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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