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- Monday November 17
- 03:33 pm10 surprising benefits of Apple Watch Series 11
The benefits of Apple Watch Series 11 go well beyond basic fitness tracking and new goodies like hypertension detection and Sleep Scores. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:27 pmUlysses updated with new Liquid Glass design, more
A new update rolling out today adds a fresh Liquid Glass design to the popular writing app Ulysses. The update “fully embraces” Liquid Glass, with optimizations across the Mac, iPhone, and iPad. “This is a massive update,” the Ulysses team says. “It’s still the same app, just better and even more beautiful than before.” more…03:01 pmApple to smooth out iPhone release schedule starting next year
For years up to and including 2025, Apple has stuck to a predictable fall rhythm for its flagship iPhones: dropping two premium Pro… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:52 pmIn with a bang, out in silence — the end of the Mac Pro
For almost two decades, the Mac Pro bounced between coveted and beloved, to derided and forgotten. This isn't the first time this has been said, but now it seems like the reign of the Mac Pro is finally over.Apple is reportedly pressing the off switch on the Mac ProAll political careers end in failure, and all devices fade out as they are eventually superseded. Yet this time it's more that the Mac Pro has been usurped, and possibly even stabbed in the back.If you're a Mac Pro fan, you know this day is coming, and you probably don't want to believe it. It's true that the Mac Pro has long lost its crown as the most powerful Mac, but still this is the legendary Mac Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:45 pmX Chat rolling out on iPhone with E2EE, voice & video calls, editing, and more
It’s not just the Twitter brand name that is no more – direct messages are also being replaced by X Chat. The new private messaging feature finally brings end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to the platform – though with one question-mark … more…02:17 pmApple hit with massive fine over Apple Watch dispute
Macworld Apple has suffered a major defeat in its long-term legal dispute with the medtech firm Masimo and has been ordered to pay $634 million in damages. As the Daily Journal reports, a federal jury agreed that the latter company’s pulse-oximetry patent was infringed by a feature in some Apple Watches. Apple had argued that damages should be in the $3m to $6m range, whereas Masimo had asked for between $634M and $749M. As part of the verdict, jurors decided that certain Apple Watch models can legally be classed as “patient monitors,” a question which was crucial to the patent-infringement claims. Apple had argued that its smartwatches don’t meet that definition because they don’t provide continuous monitoring, but Masimo argued that the Cupertino company embraced this definition in practice, if not in its marketing verbiage. The dispute has been running for years. Back in 2020, Masimo complained of employee poaching and patent infringement in the Apple Watch Series 4 and 5, which was later expanded to include the Series 6, and eventually the 7, 8, 9, and Ultra models. Last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission blocked sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2, and Apple was obliged to software-block their blood-oxygen sensors. The feature was eventually restored in August of this year, but in a modified and arguably less useful form. Apple has issued a statement indicating that it intends to appeal the verdict. “We disagree with today’s decision, which we believe is contrary to the facts,” the statement reads. “Masimo is a medical device company that does not sell any products to consumers. Over the past six years, they have sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, the majority of which have been found to be invalid. The single patent in this case expired in 2022, and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago.”02:14 pmApple’s iPhone accessories could start getting a lot more powerful, per leak
This fall, Apple unveiled an unusually large collection of official iPhone accessories, but per a new leak, it seems that the company may have even bigger plans ahead—including iPhone cases with touch interfaces. more…02:00 pmApple’s Mac Pro is a dead end. Mac Studio is the high-end Mac future now.
Apple has effectively abandoned the Mac Pro as a going concern. Inside the company, the prevailing view is that the Mac Studio… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:59 pmThe ultimate way to convert an old iMac into a Studio Display
Way back in 2009, Apple added a very handy feature to iMacs, allowing them to be used as a monitor for another Mac – typically a MacBook. Known as Target Display Mode, the company unfortunately dropped the feature from the model launched in late 2014 and it has never returned. If you want to do the same with later iMacs, there is an app for that, as we outlined last year. But Quinn Nelson at Snazzy Labs opted instead for the ultimate conversion … more…01:49 pmApple's future iPhone cases could add touch surfaces beyond the screen
Apple is said to be working on cases that add extra touch controls to an iPhone, so you can do things like manage music playback without needing to touch the screen.A selection of iPhone 16 Pro cases. Smartphone users will be familiar with the screen and side buttons as the main ways to interact with their devices using touch alone. However, using specially-created accessories, this could expand touch controls to other areas of the iPhone experience.According to serial Weibo leaker Instant Digital on Sunday, Apple will be investing in new cases for the iPhone that go beyond just protection. Instead, they are to become "second touch interfaces" for the iPhone. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:24 pmShould a second iPhone Air 2 camera be telephoto or ultrawide? [Poll]
There’s been a whole flurry of rumors about a 2nd-gen iPhone Air lately. It’s getting a second camera; it’s been delayed to allow time to add this; it’s been indefinitely delayed due to the original model proving unpopular; it probably won’t be getting a second camera but will be getting an updated chip. Whenever there are this many conflicting reports, the smart money is on nobody outside Apple really knowing what’s going on. But if the second camera report is true, that leaves another question to be answered … more…01:00 pmAMD’s $9.2B Juggernaut: Inside the Strategy Challenging Intel, Nvidia
AMD’s $9.2B quarter shows how disciplined leadership—not hype—is letting the company pressure Intel and exploit Nvidia’s power gaps as it reshapes enterprise AI strategy. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.12:58 pmiPhone Pocket hands on: Polarizing, fashion-forward iPhone accessory
The iPhone Pocket is a new accessory that revives the concept of the iPod Sock. It's also an interesting fashion-forward choice that may not be to everyone's liking, but then it doesn't need to be.The iPhone Pocket with an iPhone peeking outApple's November 11 launch of the iPhone Pocket arrived with little warning but to a massive fanfare, due to its unusual nature. A brightly-colored piece of fabric that looked like a cross between a scarf and a badly-designed sock, with a section to hold your iPhone.Its design and bright colors certainly caught the attention of collectors and people wanting a fashion item for their wardrobe. Like other popular Apple products, it quickly became a sold-out item in the United States, China, and other countries. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:18 pmTim Cook retirement ‘leak’ is clearly a deliberate test of market reaction
There’s long been speculation about when Apple CEO Tim Cook might retire and who is likely to replace him. That intensified earlier this month when he turned 65. Cook himself has made only two on-the-record statements, but a new report over the weekend suggests that the company is now ramping up preparations to replace him “as soon as next year” … more…12:15 pm2026 Mac mini: What we know about the upcoming M5 update
Macworld 2026 Mac mini: In summary The current M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini were released in November 2024. A report states that Apple is planning an M5 update in 2026. No design changes are expected. With its November 2024 release, Apple drastically changed the Mac mini, reducing its overall size. The smallest Mac you could buy actually got even smaller. It also features new M4 and M4 Pro chips, making the Mac mini a mighty machine. In October 2025, Apple released the base M5 chip in the MacBook Pro, but it hasn’t introduced the M5 Pro chip yet. But now that the M5 chip is here, customers could be wondering if it’s going to make its way into the Mac mini soon. This article keeps track of the reports on the upcoming Mac mini. For information on what the upgrade will include and when it could be released, refer to this page. 2026 Mac mini: Release date Possible release in the first half of 2026 The Mac mini has had an erratic release history. Apple went through periods of updating the Mac mini annually and then decided to wait as long as four years. Switching from Intel to Apple Silicon didn’t create any consistency; the M1 Mac mini was around for three years before it got its M2 upgrade. The Mac mini skipped the M3 and got an M4 upgrade (and a redesign) in November 2024. Since laptops dominate Apple’s Mac sales, desktop Macs like the Mac mini won’t see consistent annual upgrades. And with recent reports of Apple doing some redesigns for its higher-end chips, it is possible that we could see the Mac mini with the Pro chip see longer upgrade cycles in the future. The M5 is out, however, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini are on Apple’s product schedule for 2026. When in 2026 remains a question, though with the M6 expected in the second half of 2026, expect the M5 and M5 Pro Mac mini to be released in early spring or, at the latest, at WWDC26 in June 2026. 2026 Mac mini: Processor Expected to have M5 and M5 Pro Apple has yet to establish a consistent upgrade cycle with the Apple Silicon Mac mini. Apple released M1 and M2 versions but skipped the M3 and went with the M4. So, Apple isn’t afraid to skip a chip cycle with the Mac mini. But it looks like Apple isn’t going to skip the M5. Mark Gurman reported that Apple has the Mac mini on the 2026 release schedule with M5 and M5 Pro chips. The new M5 chip may make its way into the Mac mini. Apple 2026 Mac mini: Specs 16GB RAM (M5); 24GB RAM (M5 Pro) Thunderbolt 4 (M5); Thunderbolt 5 (M5 Pro) Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 With the M4 Mac mini, Apple increased the base RAM from 8GB (base M chip model) and 16GB (Pro M chip model) to 16GB and 24GB, respectively. That’s the standard configuration going forward, with user options to add more memory at the time of purchase. The M4 Mac mini has Thunderbolt 4, while the M4 Pro Mac mini has Thunderbolt 5. The recently released M5 chip has Thunderbolt 4, so that’s what will be in the M5 Mac mini. While specifications on the M5 Pro have not been reported, it will have Thunderbolt 5. The current Mac mini has Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3. This didn’t change with the M5 MacBook Pro, so it looks like Apple will not upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 with the M5 Mac mini. This also means that Apple might not use its N1 wireless networking chip, which made its debut with the iPhone 17. No reports have been made about changes to the inner workings of the Mac mini. New Mac mini: Design Mac mini redesign was introduced in 2024 Apple did a major redesign of the Mac mini in 2024, making it much smaller. This design will be in place for several years to come. It can’t really make it any smaller and still have it provide the features users need. No reports have been made on whether Apple will offer new colors. Expect the ports to remain the same on the new Mac mini.Foundry The port offerings are also expected to remain the same. The M4 Mac mini has: 2 front USB-C ports (supporting USB 3 at 10Gbps) Front 3.5mm audio jack 3 rear Thunderbolt ports HDMI port gigabit ethernet port (10Gb ethernet option available) New Mac mini: Price Here are the prices for the current standard base configurations of the 2024 Mac mini for reference: $599/£599/CA$799/AU$999 M4, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD $799/£799/CA$1,099/AU$1,299 M4, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD $999/£999/CA$1,399/AU$1,599 M4, 24GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD $1,399/£1,399/CA$1,999/AU$2,199 M4 Pro, 24GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Pricing for the new Mac mini has not been reported, though pricing could go up because of the U.S. tariffs situation–the components are made overseas. The prices may be adapted to more recent exchange rates elsewhere.11:30 amThe iPhone is stuck in a very successful rut
Macworld Steve Jobs took the Henry Ford approach to listening to customers, which is to say that he unashamedly didn’t listen. “If I’d asked customers what they wanted,” the carmaker is reported to have said, “they would have asked for a faster horse.” And tech fans in the 1980s might have asked for a faster IBM. But Jobs’ Apple had other ideas. The problem is, customers can be quite insistent. Earlier this fall, Apple launched another bold and groundbreaking product in the form of the iPhone Air. However, multiple reports suggest it’s sold very poorly, so poorly, in fact, that the company is believed to have cancelled plans to launch a 2nd-gen model in 2026. And last week, another report claimed the iPhone 16e is also a flop as the “attempt to lower prices has failed.” I doubt that the 16e’s problem was being too cheap, but we’ll come back to that later. Figuring out what customers want before they do is a lovely idea, but ultimately, they’re the ones with the casting vote. You can tell them what they really want is an ultra-slim smartphone as many times as you like, but you can’t force them to buy the thing. Which leaves Apple in a strange position. The most traditional iPhones—the 17, the 17 Pro, and the 17 Pro Max from the current generation—are selling just fine. It’s the outliers and experiments that are struggling. And that’s been the case for a while: the mini format didn’t work, the Plus format didn’t work, and now the Air and e formats don’t seem to be working either. The iPhone is a product of era-defining commercial dominance, but only within quite narrow parameters. And whenever Apple tries to break out of those parameters, it fails. Based on recent sales activity, it would appear that what customers want from their iPhone is a medium to large screen, a state-of-the-art camera, excellent battery life, and premium processing power. What they’ll settle for is a basic phone at a bargain price. But an iPhone that compromises on those key criteria for the sake of a middling price and AI support (like the 16e) or an absurdly slim chassis (like the Air) is going to be given the shortest of shrifts. In the short term, this is obviously fine, and both Apple and the iPhone line remain enormously profitable. But the fact that the company keeps trying to find the elusive fourth format shows how aware it is of the long-term danger. The traditional iPhone is clearly what customers want now, but they won’t want it forever. Or rather, Apple won’t be able to keep making noticeable improvements to that format forever. The yearly refreshes barely register as it is, and at a certain point, customers are going to realise that they don’t need to pay big to get what they want from a smartphone. They can just hold on to their existing handset for longer, buy a cheaper model from Apple’s range, or worst of all, buy at a lower price from an Android manufacturer. Apple will need to woo them with something new. And despite the failures, the company must keep trying. We don’t know what will come next, but Apple won’t prosper as a business if it can’t grasp the opportunity when it arrives. With the trinity of boring iPhones bringing in the money, the loose-cannon fourth model is free to experiment unprofitably. And to find the key to the smartphone’s future, whether that means lower prices, thinner handsets, folding or curved screens, AI, or something else entirely. Just don’t ask me what that something is. I’m waiting for Apple to figure it out. 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. Trending: Top stories Five years later, the M5 chip just made Apple silicon exciting again. 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the Mac, reports Roman Loyola. Mahmoud Itani rounds up 9 AI features you can use on your iPhone without enabling Apple Intelligence. From iPod Hi-Fi to iPhone Pocket: Apple’s most head-scratching products ever. Wait, writes the Macalope. Is Apple actually going to make the Mac everyone wants? The one thing Vision Pro is great at is basically guaranteed to fail. Podcast of the week In November 2020, the M1 chip made its debut and it changed the Mac for the better. That’s on this week’s episode of the Macworld Podcast. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Reviews corner Adobe Acrobat Studio review: The most popular PDF editor goes all in on AI. Mackie CR3.5BT review: Compact audio monitors at a good price. Best over-ear headphones: Top AirPods Max alternatives. The rumor mill Report: The next iPhone Air update is up in the air due to terrible sales. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, meanwhile, will reportedly be the heaviest iPhone ever. New HomePod mini imminent? Major retailer calls current model ‘discontinued.’ Video of the week @macworld.com New cheap MacBook is months away #macbook #apple ♬ original sound – Macworld – Macworld A brand-new MacBook for just $699? Find out more in our latest short. You can enjoy all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram. Software updates, bugs, and problems PSA: Dozens of critical security updates are waiting for your iPhone and Mac. Will your iPhone get iOS 27? We think we have the answer. See how well macOS 26.2 Tahoe’s new ‘Edge Light’ works in the dark. You can now use your iPhone as your Digital ID–here’s how. 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.10:00 amRumor: After 14 years, Tim Cook may be looking to step down from Apple’s CEO position
After 14 years at the helm, Apple CEO Tim Cook may be loooking to pass the reins to a successor. According to the Financial Times, Apple has stepped up its preparations for the handover of the CEO role from Tim Cook. Per sources close to the story, Apple’s board and senior executives have “recently intensified” […] Source08:00 amIf your iPhone is a disaster, this AI app gives it a fresh start for a one-time $30
Macworld TL;DR: Cleaner Kit is an AI app that cleans up your iPhone’s photos, contacts, and inbox, and the lifetime plan is only $29.99 for a limited time. Chances are your iPhone is overflowing with unwanted photos, duplicate files, and ancient contacts you haven’t touched in years. Cleaner Kit swoops in to handle the mess. This smart AI-powered organizer keeps things clean for life, and it’s only $29.99 for a limited time. Trusted by more than 67 million users, Cleaner Kit goes beyond photo cleanup. It intelligently detects duplicate and low-quality pictures, compresses large videos without killing quality, and keeps your gallery organized with swipe-based sorting. It even merges messy contacts, removes empty entries, and clears out old calendar events in seconds. Need extra privacy? Stash sensitive items in the secure vault. Cleaner Kit doesn’t stop there — it also tackles inbox clutter. It groups Gmail messages by sender so you can clear thousands of emails with one tap, or manage them individually if you’re the detail-oriented type. Best of all, your private data never leaves your phone, so you stay in control. Cleaner Kit is like having a digital housekeeper for your iPhone, working quietly in the background while you focus on more important things. Grab this lifetime subscription to a Cleaner Kit iOS Premium Plan for just $29.99 (MSRP $104.97). Cleaner Kit for iOS Premium Plan: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.04:18 amApple may shake up iPhone launch cycle from 2026
Apple may change how it launches new iPhones starting in 2026, with the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18 slated for an early-2027 debut. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)Sunday November 1610:10 pmApple Speeds Planning for Replacing CEO Tim Cook Next Year
From the Business Standard: Apple has accelerated its succession plans as the company prepares for Chief Executive Tim Cook to potentially step down as early as next year, Financial Times reported. Apple's board and senior leaders have recently increased their focus on a smooth leadership transition after Cook's more than 14 years at the helm of the $4 trillion tech giant, the news report said. John Ternus, senior Vice-President of hardware engineering, is seen by many inside Apple as the top contender to become the next CEO. However, no final decision has been made yet. The leadership shift has been in the works for years and is not connected to its present performance, the news report said. Apple expects a strong year-end sales season, especially for the iPhone... Cook, who turned 65 this month, became Apple's CEO in 2011 after the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple's market value has grown from around $350 billion in 2011 to $4 trillion today. Apple's stock is near a record high following strong results last month. Apple "is unlikely to introduce a new CEO before its earnings report in late January, which covers the crucial holiday quarter," the article points out. "An early-year announcement would allow the next leadership team time to settle before Apple's major annual events — the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and the iPhone launch in September..." Slashdot reader BrianFagioli points out that top-contender Ternus "is deeply technical and has been central to Apple Silicon and the hardware comeback in the Mac line." If Apple elevates him, that would be an unmistakable signal that the board wants a return to stronger, more grounded hardware leadership. The company may finally realize that accessories aren't enough to keep Apple fans excited, and that expensive experiments are not a substitute for devices people can actually use and afford... Financial success can only hide hardware misfires for so long. Apple needs a leader who can reconnect the company with its reputation for creating devices people can't live without, not ones people return or ignore. Tech blogger John Gruber "absolutely loves" the idea of Cook's successor "being a product person like Ternus, and Ternus is young enoughâ — â50, the same age Cook was in 2011 when he took the reins from Steve Jobsâ — âto hold the job for a long stretch." Ternus took over iPhone hardware engineering in 2020, and was promoted to senior vice president of hardware engineering in January 2021, when Dan Riccio stepped aside. Apple's hardware, across all product lines and including silicon, has been exemplary under Ternus's leadership. And Ternus clearly loves and understands the Mac. I would also bet that Cook moves into the role of executive chairman, and will still play a significant, if not leading, role for the company. And Gruber makes another observation about that Financial Times article. "That 'several people' spoke to the FT about this says to me that those sources (members of the board?) did so with Cook's blessing, and they want this announcement to be no more than a little surprising." Read more of this story at Slashdot.