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- Monday March 30
- 01:51 pmApple's AI home strategy, hands on with Sonos Play, and more on Smart Home Insider
On this week's episode of the Smart Home Insider podcast, we go hands on with the new Sonos Play speaker, test out Matter cameras, and discuss Apple's AI home plans.Smart Home Insider PodcastSitting in as guest host this week is Dan Turk. Dan is Vice President of Tech and Innovation at Max Borges Agency and is well-versed in the current state of the smart home.We get the episode going by recapping the week's news, including Apple's official announcement of WWDC 2026. We talk about the possible smart home-related announcements and how they revolve around the rumored new hardware. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:49 pmwatchOS 27 to reportedly offer two main Apple Watch upgrades
Apple will unveil iOS 27 and its companion software updates on June 8 at WWDC, and a recent Q&A with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed the two main upgrades coming with watchOS 27. more…01:43 pmApple's third co-founder insists he still owns 10% of Apple
Apparently Ron Wayne wasn't splitting hairs. Despite quitting after 12 days, and being paid off twice, the third Apple co-founder has doubled-down on his odd claim of still owning 10% of the company.Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne at the Computer History Museum — image credit: CHMWhen Ron Wayne first raised this point in March 2026 at the Computer History Museum, it sounded like splitting hairs. He said that he had never sold the 10% stake he originally had in Apple, but he appeared to want to clear up a point of pedantry.Since Wayne quit Apple, he strictly speaking didn't own the 10% and that's why he could never have sold it. This seemed like a tiny point of clarification, and no more. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:15 pmThe other geniuses: 16 unsung heroes from Apple’s first 50 years
We look beyond Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Jony Ive and Tim Cook to 15 unsung heroes from Apple's first 50 amazingly successful years. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:15 pmThe other geniuses: 16 unsung heroes from Apple’s first 50 years
We look beyond Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Jony Ive and Tim Cook to 16 unsung heroes from Apple's first 50 amazingly successful years. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:06 pmM5 MacBook Air review: Incremental update, but the best buy for most
The new MacBook Air with M5 is no longer the entry-level MacBook in Apple's catalog. It's still the one most people should buy.M5 MacBook Air reviewThe new M5 MacBook Air launched into in era when Apple is taking big steps to adjust its lineup. With the introduction of the MacBook Neo, Apple has widened the potential customer base.This repositions the MacBook Air in the process. That's not a bad thing, though. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:05 pmApple shifts AI strategy toward App Store and search-like platform
Apple’s revamped AI and Siri strategy signals a clear recommitment to its proven core business model: selling premium hardware… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:04 pmIt's going to be a long wait for an OLED iMac
You're going to have to be patient if you want an OLED iMac, with the recent rumors suggesting that Apple is very early in the testing process.24-inch iMacAfter many years of using LED backlighting and using miniLED in some cases, Apple has gradually been moving its product lines to OLED. However, the expense of the technology means some products will get it far later than others.In the case of the 24-inch iMac, ZDNet Korea reports that Apple plans to bring the OLED iMac out by 2029 or 2030. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:00 pmAdobe Illustrator now lets you rotate 2D vectors in 3D space
Adobe Turntable is now generally available in Illustrator, allowing creators to generate multi-angle views from any vector illustration. Here’s how it works. more…12:52 pmOLED iMac in the works, but don’t hold your breath
A new supply chain report says that Apple has asked both Samsung and LG to supply samples of an OLED panel suitable for an iMac. The report says that the company is progressing plans to launch an OLED iMac, but it seems we shouldn’t expect it anytime soon … more…12:20 pmApple’s 50th anniversary finale may feature a legendary headliner
Over the last several weeks, Apple has held celebrations for its upcoming 50th anniversary around the world, including performances by Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central in New York City and Mumford & Sons at Apple Battersea in London. Now, new details have emerged about the finale of the Apple 50th anniversary festivities, set for this week. more…12:16 pmThe end of the Mac Pro was inevitable, but I still feel a little sad
I reluctantly accepted last year that the end of the line for the Mac Pro was an inevitability. It had already effectively been replaced by the Mac Studio, and a macOS 26 feature was another nail in its coffin. Yesterday was a day that had been coming since the first Apple Silicon Mac. I do think it’s the right call, but confess to still being a little sad to see it happen … more…12:01 pmGentler Streak’s Wellness section now features cardio fitness data
Starting today, Gentler Streak users can check VO₂ max estimate data, with trends and averages, for a more complete snapshot of their fitness. Here are the details. more…12:00 pmThe Edge of Tomorrow Takes Shape at HP
HP is advancing an edge-first AI strategy, focusing on running models locally across devices and workflows. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.11:41 amHere’s the most powerful charger worth buying for each Apple device
The charging brick that came with your Apple device – or the one recommended by Apple, in the case of iPhones – usually won’t get you the fastest charge. It can be worth spending a bit more money on a more powerful charger. Conversely, every Apple device has its own maximum charging rate, and buying a charger which exceeds this is just a waste of money … more…11:39 amApple Ireland appears to have broken sanctions on Russia
Apple's Ireland subsidiary has been fined half a million dollars by UK regulators who say the company probably broke sanctions against Russia.Moscow — image credit:WikimediaAfter Russia began its attacks on Ukraine in 2022, both the US and Europe imposed sanctions that, for example, meant Apple Pay no longer being available. Now according to the Financial Times, a UK regulator has fined Apple over payments to Okko, a Russian online video streaming service.The UK is not part of the European Union, but the payments were made via a UK-based bank. Consequently, the country's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) had the authority to impose the fine of $517,946.25. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:15 amApple I to the Macintosh: 1976 to 1985
Macworld Apple’s first decade is filled with products that are iconic, not just within Apple’s own history, but the history of technology. Apple is often cited as the originator of personal computing, releasing products that empowered generations of users and set the example for how technology can be used by the masses. This era saw three different computing platforms come from Apple–that’s how uncertain the future was. By the end of the decade, the Macintosh would emerge as the primary focus for Apple, which would eventually form the basis for iOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Here’s how the first 10 years of Apple, 1976-1985, shaped the future. April 1976: Apple I Foundry The computer that started it all didn’t even come with a case–the Apple I was just a circuit board, and buyers had to bring their own case, which resulted in some unique setups that would make Jony Ive cringe. (“Wood? Bollocks.”) Apple made about 200 computers that had a 1.02MHz CMOS Technology 6502 microprocessor and 4K of RAM, and introduced the Apple I at $666.66, which was later reduced to $475. Because of its rarity and historic influence, the Apple I sometimes becomes available through auctions, and the bidding reaches the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the value of the Apple I in tech history can’t be measured–while other computers came before it, the Apple I sparked the personal computing revolution and firmly established Apple as a tech company not just for business people but for everyone. June 1977: Apple II RR Auction Apple’s second computer, the Apple II, was its first mass-market success. It was designed to appeal to everyday folks, not just the hobbyists who invested in an Apple I. Steve Wozniak made improvements that heightened its utility, and even though its $1,298 price tag was higher than competitors’, the Apple II was a huge hit. How huge? The Apple II is often cited as one of the greatest computers of all time, if not the greatest. Apple continued with the Apple II line for 16 years, and while the Macintosh eventually became the company’s main platform, the Apple II blazed a trail that even today’s Macs still follow. January 1983: Apple Lisa Computer History Museum The Apple Lisa (officially Local Integrated Software Architecture ) was the first personal computer with a graphical user interface, which used a document-centric approach and even allowed files to have the same name (which was unheard of in early computer interfaces). Its all-in-one design had a 5MHz Motorola 68000 CPU, support for up to 2MB of RAM, and a 12-inch monochrome display. Named after Steve Jobs’ estranged daughter, it was originally priced at $9,995. Lisa’s legacy is as complicated as the relationship Jobs had with its namesake, but there’s no denying its importance. In 1980, Steve was kicked off the Lisa project and latched into the Macintosh group, which borrowed many of Lisa’s attributes, namely its GUI. Bruce Daniels, who played a major role on both the Lisa and Macintosh development teams, once said, “All the Mac groups were willing to say that if there had not been a Lisa, there never would have been a Mac.” December 1983: ImageWriter The Centre for Computing History Apple had released printers before 1983, but the ImageWriter was the first that worked with both the Apple II and Macintosh (which wouldn’t arrive for another month). It was one of the first dot-matrix printers, so it could print low-resolution graphics; a lot of other printers used daisy-wheel mechanisms that were meant to produce only text. It wasn’t until ImageWriter II in 1985 that the project took off and Apple finally discontinued it after 11 years. The ImageWriter II had a sleeker, more refined design, better speed and print modes, and could print in color if you changed the ribbon. By the mid-1980s, laser printers were beginning to transform publishing, and the Apple LaserWriter became the industry standard. January 1984: Macintosh 128K Foundry The Macintosh 128K set into motion the core of Apple’s business and empowered users everywhere. But the Macintosh was, at first, considered a research project at Apple; the company was more focused on the Apple Lisa. That all changed when Steve Jobs, determined to “make a dent in the universe,” took over the Macintosh team. Here’s why 1984 wasn’t like 1984: The first Macintosh arrived with an 8MHz Motorola 6800 CPU, supported up to 1MB of RAM, and had a built-in 9-inch monochrome display. System 1.0 ran off a 400K floppy disk, and Disk Swapper’s Elbow became a badge of honor that bonded those early users. It’s been 40 years since its debut, but the core features of System 1—the Finder, menu bar, and Control Panel—are still a part of today’s macOS 26, a testament to the versatility of the original idea. March 1985: LaserWriter Gammal trotjänare. Wikipedia When the Macintosh was introduced, it was immediately apparent how it was built for creative work, but it needed an affordable device to satisfy professionals who wanted high-quality prints or their creations. The Apple LaserWriter did that, and ushered in what Paul Brainerd termed “desktop publishing.” The LaserWriter introduced the world to PostScript, Adobe’s page description language that enabled printers to reproduce graphics at the quality that professionals demand. It was also networkable, so that several Macs could connect to it and print. This networkability helped to offset its $6,995 price. This is part one of a five-part series exploring 50 years of Apple product releases. Stay tuned to Macworld all week as we explore all five decades, continuing tomorrow with 1986-1995.11:00 amThe top 50 people who shaped Apple, ranked
Macworld April 1 marks Apple’s 50th anniversary, a milestone it couldn’t reach without the help of some very talented people. So we decided to put together a list of the 50 people who made Apple the company it is today. Some worked there for just a year or two; others for almost the entire half-century, while others never actually worked for the company at all. But all influenced Apple’s journey in some profound way. This is all, of course, deeply subjective. It is very unlikely that every reader will agree with the author’s selections, far less with his rankings. Which is fine, we welcome the conversation. Our only rule is that if you complain about someone’s exclusion, tell us who you would cut to make room. The list is presented in reverse order and will be expanded with 10 new names each day across this week. Who do you think will make the top 10? Drop us a message on Bluesky or Threads. 50. Katie Cotton Apple PR legend Katie Cotton joined Apple in 1996, shortly before the return of Steve Jobs, and worked closely with him for the next 15 years. For better or worse, she was instrumental in shaping the company’s communications strategy and famous culture of secrecy, fiercely controlling Apple’s portrayal in the press. As we wrote upon her retirement in 2014, she “largely turned public relations on its head.” Cotton sadly passed away in 2023, but like Jobs himself, her legacy lives on in Apple Park. 49. Al Gore Kleiner Perkins The former vice president of the United States is better known, of course, for his political career and climate advocacy. But Al Gore has made a small mark on Apple’s history too: After his failed bid to become president of the United States, he joined Apple’s Board of Directors. “Al brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom to Apple from having helped run the largest organization in the world: the United States government,” Jobs said at the time of his election. No, not that election. 48. Michael Spindler Apple Wiki During its 50 years, Apple has had seven full-time CEOs. Six of them are in this list. (Michael Scott, who was more memorable for the number of people he fired than the new products he oversaw, misses out.) Michael Spindler, who ran things from 1993 to 1996, is our next lowest-ranked CEO. His era wasn’t exactly a golden one, but he deserves recognition for the momentous launch of the first PowerPC Macs on his watch, as well as bold failures such as the clone licensing program. Spindler also fired a bunch of people and tried to merge with IBM, but nobody’s perfect. 47. Bill Gates Microsoft Apple fans are mainly familiar with Bill Gates as the guy trying to get everyone to run Microsoft DOS or Windows instead of Mac OS through the 1980s and 1990s. But it’s important to remember that Apple probably wouldn’t have survived the latter decade without Microsoft’s $150 million investment (and its commitment to keep developing Office for the Mac) in 1997, and it was Gates who made that call. This felt like a Faustian bargain, but unusually for those types of stories, everything worked out OK in the end. 46. Bob Belleville Folklore.org Jobs famously recruited John Sculley from PepsiCo by asking him if he wanted to sell sugared water for the rest of his life. Bob Belleville, working at the time for Xerox, reportedly got the even less flattering line “Everything you’ve ever done in your life is shit, so why don’t you come work for me?” Perhaps surprisingly, this worked, and Belleville spent three years leading both hardware and software engineering for the Macintosh and overseeing the development of the LaserWriter. In a 2015 documentary, he said that working under Jobs consumed his life and destroyed his marriage, yet movingly struggled to hold back tears while reading an obituary he wrote for his former boss. It’s hard to think of a better metaphor for the intense highs and desolate lows of working with Steve. 45. Chris Espinosa Meredith Espinosa Apple employee No. 8 joined the company in 1976 when he was just 14 (despite being warned about the notorious Steves by his teachers), and is still there today, making him Apple Inc.’s longest-serving employee. Espinosa did a bit of everything in the early days, from marketing to writing manuals and business plans, before finding his niche in technical projects such as Mac OS, Xcode, and AppleScript. Few can claim to have contributed so much, and none for so long. 44. Ridley Scott Getty Images Lots of successful film directors have dabbled in advertising, but rarely does the resultant work merit more than a faintly embarrassing footnote in their career. Not so with Ridley Scott, who had already made Alien and Blade Runner when he was approached to direct a high-profile spot for the upcoming Macintosh computer. He could have passed on the sort of thing as beneath his stature, but instead, he made what is widely considered the greatest TV commercial ever made. All that without even showing the product. Lots of successful film directors have dabbled in advertising, but rarely does the resultant work merit more than a faintly embarrassing footnote in their career. Not so with Ridley Scott, who had already made Alien and Blade Runner when he was approached to direct a high-profile spot for the upcoming Macintosh computer. He could have passed on the sort of thing as beneath his stature, but instead, he made what is widely considered the greatest TV commercial ever made. All that without even showing the product. 43. Rod Holt Alchetron Already well into his 40s by 1977, Rod Holt was reportedly skeptical about both Apple and Steve Jobs himself when first asked by his boss at Atari to “help the kids out.” He reportedly demanded a fee of $200 per day, which proved to be a wise investment. Holt designed a vital switching power supply for the Apple II and later joined full-time as employee No. 5, chief engineer, VP of engineering, and chief scientist. “This process of invention is very unusual,” he said on the Mac’s 30th birthday many years later. “I think the world could use a lot more of it.” 42. Angela Ahrendts Apple Apple’s first and for many years its only high-profile female executive, ex-Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts merits inclusion as the pioneer she undoubtedly was in a male-dominated industry. (Just look at how many men there are on this list.) But that would be to sell her short, because she also made an indelible mark on the company’s retail presence around the world. Every time you walk into an Apple Store, you’re seeing Ahrendts’ influence, and the value brought to Apple by her deep understanding of the fashion and luxury markets. 41. Daniel Kottke Twitter Having met Jobs (whom he described as “a really sweet guy, real quiet and shy”) at Reed College in 1972, Daniel Kottke later travelled extensively with the Apple founder. They trekked in India, seeking spiritual enlightenment, and they visited All One Farm, the Oregon commune owned by the love guru and LSD trafficker Robert Friedland. So it was natural enough, when Jobs started a company whose name was inspired by Friedland’s orchard, that he would bring his friend on board as Apple employee No. 12. A self-taught engineer with little computing knowledge, Kottke grew to become an invaluable member of the team. He assembled and debugged circuit boards (he reportedly still owns all 12 original Mac logic boards), built prototypes, and designed the Macintosh’s detached keyboard. His signature is even embossed inside the case. But Kottke lost favor with the boss. When Apple went public in 1980, Rod Holt offered to match whatever stock options Jobs would give his buddy. “OK,” Jobs replied. “I will give him zero.” Not such a sweet guy after all. This is part one of a five-part series counting down the most influential people throughout Apple’s 50-year history. Stay tuned to Macworld all week as we reveal the full list, continuing tomorrow with 40-31.10:58 amiPhone will still exist 50 years from now, says Apple – and no AI execs
Apple SVP Eddy Cue has previously suggested that we may not be using iPhones ten years from now, but marketing chief Greg Joswiak appears to disagree. Joz said in a new interview that it’s hard to imagine that we won’t still be using an iPhone 50 years from now … more…10:30 amWe all know the crazy ones, here’s to the forgotten ones
Macworld I’ve spent the past few weeks working on a fun long-form feature: a list of 50 people who helped to make Apple the company it is today. This is, of course, in honor of Apple’s 50th anniversary, which it celebrates on Wednesday, April 1. My list will be published in five instalments across this week, starting today, and I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed writing it. One thing that surprised me was how many names there were to choose from: not just people who’ve worked at or in connection with Apple, but people whose contributions have made a tangible difference to the company’s story. It seemed like the challenge would be finding 50 really worthwhile names in order to match the birthday number; in fact, the hard part was narrowing it down that far. Even after my list was set, colleagues kept suggesting extra people that I would then realise had to be included. It was infuriating. Of course, the line had to be drawn somewhere; the list of Apple’s 60 greatest people will have to wait until 2036, and who knows what we’ll be doing by then. The cut-off point was 50, and this meant that some amazingly talented people didn’t make it in. I don’t want to give too much away—I certainly won’t be revealing any of the rankings, you’ll have to read the article to find those out—but I thought it might be nice to mention a few deserving but lesser-known names I considered. Half of them made the cut, and half did not. There are 10 names in this list, presented alphabetically. Call yourself an Apple fan? See how many you recognize. Paul Brainerd: Coined the term “desktop publishing” and released the first consumer DTP application: PageMaker, which was, critically for Apple’s development among the creative market, a Mac exclusive. Douglas Engelbart: Invented the mouse, hyperlinks, word processors, and untold other foundational computing concepts back in the 60s. These would wind their way, via Xerox PARC, to the groundbreaking interface elements of the Lisa and original Macintosh. Rob Janoff: Designed the second Apple logo, which, other than a few color changes, is the one Apple still uses today. The first Apple logo was pretty but also absolutely bonkers. John Knoll: Co-creator of Adobe Photoshop. Like PageMaker, this started life as a Mac exclusive. Jerry Manock: Worked on the designs of the Apple II, Apple III, Lisa, and Macintosh. Apple’s first designer, he is widely considered to be the father of the company’s Industrial Design Group. Tim Mott: A member of the Xerox PARC team whose breakthrough interface concepts would inspire the Macintosh. He is specifically known for inventing the double-click. Joy Mountford: Influential leader, from 1986 to 1996, of Apple’s Human Interface Group. This team of scientists and visual artists helped make the company’s products more user-friendly, and codified usability guidelines for Mac app developers. Marc Newson: Star designer who worked on the Apple Watch and Apple retail stores. Big buddies with Jony Ive, and they now have a company together. Burrell Smith: Engineer who designed the Mac’s motherboard. Was described by a colleague as the closest Apple ever came to having another Steve Wozniak. Bud Tribble: Software manager for the original Mac, and later a “policy czar” with a focus on privacy. Be honest. How many did you know? And while you’re at it, try to guess which ones made it into the article. Drop us a message on Bluesky or Threads. The answers to that will be revealed this week. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Apple turns 50: Anniversary special Apple at 50: 7 iconic products that proved everyone wrong. 7 Apple inventions that reinvented Apple. Apple turns the Sydney Opera House into an iPad canvas with stunning results. Trending: Top stories Even PC users have caught MacBook Neo fever, discovers the Macalope. The Mac Pro died so Apple silicon could live. Mahmoud Itani lists 12 hidden iMessage features every iPhone user should try. Put it in your calendar! Apple announces AI-fueled WWDC26 to kick off June 8. The most shocking finding in Ookla’s C1X report? People are buying the iPhone Air. This Mac mini dock looks like a classic Macintosh and has a working display. Podcast of the week Apple has announced the dates for its Worldwide Developers Conference. In the latest episode of the Macworld Podcast we also talk about Apple TV rumors, ads in Apple Maps, and more. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Slay The Spire 2: The best deck-builder just got better. The rumor mill iOS 27 rumored to bring a totally new Siri interface, ‘Ask’ button, and more. Software updates, bugs, and problems No new Siri, but iOS 26.4 is here with a ton of must-have new features. Apple urges iPhone users to update as new DarkSword hacking tool lands online. The OS 26.4 updates are loaded with security fixes, so grab them now! And with that, we’re done for this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalope–an irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley.