Microsoft 365 usually costs $9.99/month, but it’s only $7.99 here
Macworld TL;DR: Get a 1-month Microsoft 365 subscription on sale for $7.99. Some subscriptions are worth it, and Microsoft 365 is definitely one of them because of all the little extras that aren’t available in Microsoft Office. It’s even better if you can get it on sale. Right now, a 1-month Microsoft 365 Personal Subscription is marked down from $9.99 to $7.99. Microsoft 365 Personal gives you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, along with a few add-ons that make it more useful than a basic Office setup. You can use it on up to five devices at the same time, including PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android, so it works well if you move between devices during the day. One of the biggest differences with Microsoft 365 is the 1TB of OneDrive storage. That gives you space for files, photos, videos, and backups, and it makes it easier to keep everything synced instead of emailing documents to yourself or digging through old downloads. Outlook is also included as an ad-free email app, and Microsoft Defender adds security tools for your personal data and devices. The subscription also includes Microsoft Editor for spelling and grammar help, Clipchamp for video editing, and Copilot inside the Microsoft apps. Right now, it’s only $7.99 to get a 1-month Microsoft 365 Personal Plan. Microsoft 365 Personal: 1-Month SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Apple's Early Days: Massive Oral History Shares Stories About Young Wozniak and Jobs
Apple's 50th anniversary is this week — and Fast Company's Harry McCracken just published an 11,000-word oral history with some fun stories from Apple's earliest days and the long and winding road to its very first home computers: Steve Wozniak, cofounder, Apple: I told my dad when I was in high school, "I'm going to own a computer someday." My dad said, "It costs as much as a house." And I sat there at the table — I remember right where we were sitting — and I said, "I'll live in an apartment." I was going to have a computer if it was ever possible. I didn't need a house. Woz even remembers trying to build a home computer early on with a teenaged Steve Jobs and Bill Fernandez from rejected parts procured from local electronics companies. Woz designed it — "not from anybody else's design or from a manual. And Fernandez was one of those kids that could use a soldering iron." Bill Fernandez: The computer was very basic. It was working, and we were starting to talk about how we could hook a teletype up to it. Mrs. Wozniak called a reporter from the San Jose Mercury, and he came over with a photographer. We set up the computer on the floor of Steve Wozniak's bedroom. Well, the core integrated circuit that ran the power supply that I built was an old reject part. We turned on the computer, and the power supply smoked and burnt out the circuitry. So we didn't get our photos in the paper with an article about the boy geniuses. But within a few years Jobs and Wozniak both wound up with jobs at local tech companies. Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell remembers that Steve Jobs "wasn't a good engineer, but he was a great technician. He was pristine in his ability to solder, which was actually important in those days." Meanwhile Allen Baum had shared Wozniak's high school interest in computers, and later got Woz a job working at Hewlett-Packard — where employees were allowed to use stockroom parts for private projects. ("When he needed some parts, even if we didn't have them, I could order them.") Baum helped with the Apple I and II, and joined Apple a decade later. Wozniak remembers being inspired to build that first Apple I by the local Homebrew Computing Club, people "talking about great things that would happen to society, that we would be able to communicate like we never did [before] and educate in new ways. And being a geek would be important and have value." And once he'd built his first computer, "I wanted these people to help create the revolution. And so I passed out my designs with no copyright notices — public domain, open source, everything. A couple of other people in the club did build it." But Woz and Jobs had even tried pitching the computer as a Hewlett-Packard product, Woz remembers: Steve Wozniak: I showed them what it would cost and how it would work and what it could do with my little demos. They had all the engineering people and the marketing people, and they turned me down. That was the first of five turndowns from Hewlett-Packard. Steve Jobs and I had to go into business on our own. In the end, Randy Wigginton, Apple employee No. 6 remembers witnessing Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne the signing of Apple's founding contract, "which is pretty funny, because I was 15 at the time." And it was Allen Baum's father who gave Wozniak and Jobs the bridge loan to buy the parts they'd need for their first 500 computers. After all the memories, the article concludes that "Trying to connect every dot between Apple, the tiny, dirt-poor 1970s startup, and Apple, the $3.7 trillion 21st-century global colossus, is impossible." But this much is clear: The company has always been at its best when its original quirky humanity and willingness to be an outlier shine through. Mark Johnson, Apple employee No. 13: I was in Cupertino just yesterday. It's totally different. They own Cupertino now. Jonathan Rotenberg, who cofounded the Boston Computer Society in 1977 at age 13: People want to hate Apple, because it is big and powerful. But Apple has an underlying moral purpose that is immensely deep and expansive... Mike Markkula, the early retiree from Intel whose guidance and money turned the garage startup into a company: The culture mattered. People were there for the right reasons — to build something transformative — not just to make money. That alignment produced extraordinary results... Steve Wozniak: Everything you do in life should have some element of joy in it. Even your work should have an element of joy... When you're about to die, you have certain memories. And for me, it's not going to be Apple going public or Apple being huge and all that. It's really going to be stories from the period when humble people spotted something that was interesting and followed it I'll be thinking of that when I die, along with a lot of pranks I played. The important things. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Read more »

Vibe coding could mark the end of the App Store review process as we know it
Toward the tail end of last year, agentic coding (otherwise known as vibe coding) truly took off. With the launch of models like Claude Opus 4.5, it suddenly became possible to ask AI to build something for you, and it’d do it in a nearly fully functional way. That level of accuracy led to people taking a hands off approach to app building, and even enabled people who’ve never coded before to make apps. Whether or not you like this trend is another discussion. Either way, there’s one thing that holds true: App Store review isn’t cut out for it. more…

Read more »

Amazon slashes up to $200 off new M5 Pro & M5 Max MacBook Pros
Both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are eligible for Big Spring Sale savings to the tune of up to $200 off, delivering the lowest prices on record.Save up to $200 on Apple's brand-new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro - Image credit: AppleApple's 2026 MacBook Pro is on sale at Amazon today, with 14-inch and 16-inch retail configurations eligible for triple-digit savings.Prices start at $2,049, with a breakdown of the deals below and in our MacBook Pro Price Guide. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Sunday Reboot: Addiction, VR, and how the iPhone Air doesn't suck
In this week's "Sunday Reboot," social addiction is a slippery slope for Apple's App Store, Nvidia CloudXR is a great thing for Apple Vision Pro gaming, and the iPhone Air isn't as bad as you'd think.Apple Vision Pro, YouTube, Instagram, iPhone AirSunday Reboot is a weekly column covering some of the lighter stories within the Apple reality distortion field from the past seven days. All to get the next week underway with a good first step.This week, Apple finally killed off the long-suffering Mac Pro, a severe "DarkSword" exploit"DarkSword" exploit was leaked that affects older iOS versions, and China pressed for more App Store openness. Apple's celebration in London also took place, with performances from Nia Archives and Mumford & Sons. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Sora isn’t the only thing OpenAI shut down this month
On Tuesday, OpenAI announced that the company is shutting down Sora, its AI-generated video app. The iPhone app only arrived in September, making its six-month existence brief and fun, much like using the app itself. It turns out Sora isn’t the only thing the makers of ChatGPT are nixing this month. more…

Read more »

How AudioBo simplifies converting audio files into M4B audiobooks on macOS
I have been an audiobook fan for decades. I have had an Audible subscription since 2008 (before they were owned by Amazon), and I have listened to hundreds, if not thousands, of books during that time. A few years ago, I wrote about my process of taking cheap CD audiobooks from Amazon and combining them into M4B files to host on my Plex server. Once I discovered it was possible to put these files into Plex on my Mac Mini, it became my go-to audiobook setup for me. Paired with the Prologue app, it creates the ultimate listening experience that you own and control. more…

Read more »

Anniversary party at Apple Park will feature a British Invasion performance
Apple will be ending its 50th-anniversary celebrations in the coming week, with an unnamed British performer set to entertain employees at Apple Park.Apple ParkApple's celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the company has resulted in performances around the world. To go out with a bang, the celebrations will be concluding at its headquarters.Posting to X, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes that the world tour will reach its finale sometime this week. The venue will be Apple Park. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Get smarter in 15 minutes: Grab a lifetime Headway sub for bestseller summaries
This book summaries app serves up bite-size bestsellers you can read, listen to or watch. Save on the Headway app. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 owners get Antennagate payout
On March 29, 2012, a settlement ended Apple's "Antennagate" controversy by giving affected iPhone 4 owners the chance to claim a $15 payout. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Apple Now Requires Device-Level Age Verification in the UK. Could the US Be Next?
Apple unveiled new device-level age restrictions in the UK on Wednesday. "After downloading a new update, users will now have to confirm that they are 18 or older to access unrestricted features," reports Gizmodo. "Users will be able to confirm their age with a credit card or by scanning an ID." For those underage or who have not confirmed their age, Apple will turn on Web Content Filter and Communication Safety, which will not only restrict access to certain apps or websites, but will also monitor messages, shared photo albums, AirDrop, and FaceTime calls for nudity. Apple didn't specify exactly which services and features are banned for under-18 users, but it will likely be in compliance with UK legislation... The British government does not require Apple and other OS providers to institute device-level age checks, but it does restrict minor access to online pornography under the Online Safety Act, which passed in 2023. So far, that restriction has only been implemented at the website level, but UK officials have been worried about easy loopholes to evade the age restrictions, like VPNs. The broader tech industry has been campaigning for some time to use device-level age checks instead in response to the rising tide of under-16 social media and internet bans around the world. Last month, in a landmark social media trial in California, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also supported this idea, saying that conducting age verification "at the level of the phone is just a lot clearer than having every single app out there have to do this separately." Pornhub-operator Aylo had advocated for device-level restrictions in the UK as well, and even sent out letters to Apple, Google, and Microsoft in November asking for OS-level age verification... The most obvious question: Could this be brought stateside? Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Read more »

M5 Pro and M5 Max vs. M4 Pro and M4 Max: How big is the performance jump?
Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips promise big performance gains over the M4 generation. Here’s how the latest Apple silicon stacks up. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

This platform helps you pick stocks—and it’s now on sale
Macworld TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Sterling Stock Picker for just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code SAVE20 and simplify investing. Getting into the stock market can feel like walking into a room where everyone is already playing a game you don’t know the rules to. Charts, earnings reports, market trends—it’s a lot. Sterling Stock Picker can help, and it’s available for just $55.19 (regularly $486) through April 12. This platform is designed to make investing feel a whole lot less intimidating. Sterling Stock Picker uses AI-driven insights to surface opportunities that actually align with your goals and risk tolerance. One standout feature is Finley, a built-in AI financial coach. You can ask questions, analyze your portfolio, and get real-time guidance without needing a finance degree (or a friend who kind of knows stocks). It also includes a done-for-you portfolio builder that helps you create a diversified setup based on your preferences. Whether you’re just dipping your toe into investing or looking to sharpen your strategy, this tool keeps things simple, structured, and actually usable. Get a lifetime of Sterling Stock Picker access for just $55.19 (regularly $486) through April 12 with code SAVE20. Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

Get the latest Microsoft Office for your Mac for under $100 – No Subscription
Macworld TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac is available for under $100 as a one-time purchase, giving you the latest Office apps without paying for Microsoft 365 every year. Mac users often assume that Microsoft Office means signing up for Microsoft 365 and paying a yearly fee just to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. That subscription can run $70 to $100 per year, which adds up. Bypass that yearly fee, and instead get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac (or PC) for under $100. You’ll save money in the long term while still getting the latest version of the apps you use every day. Office 2024 includes the core apps: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook OneNote This version also includes performance improvements and newer tools compared to older Office versions. Excel handles larger datasets more smoothly, PowerPoint now supports recording presentations with voice and video, and Word includes AI-assisted writing suggestions and focus mode for distraction-free writing. The interface has also been updated with Microsoft’s Fluent design system, making the apps feel more modern and consistent across Mac and PC. Real-time collaboration, commenting, and version history also make it easier to work on shared documents or projects. For Mac users who want Microsoft Office but don’t want another subscription, a lifetime license is often the cheaper option after just a year or two. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac is available now for $99.97 (MSRP $249.99) as a one-time purchase. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal Want to see more deals? Visit the shop and use code MARCH15 to save an extra 15% sitewide through March 29. Exclusions apply. StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

MacOS 26.4 Adds Warnings For ClickFix Attacks to Its Terminal App
An anonymous Slashdot reader writes: ClickFix attacks are ramping up. These attacks have users copy and paste a string to something that can execute a command line — like the Windows Run dialog, or a shell prompt. But MacRumors reports that macOS 26.4 Tahoe (updated earlier this week) introduces a new feature to its Terminal app where it will detect ClickFix attempts and stop them by prompting the user if they really wanted to run those commands. According to MacRumors, the warning readers "Possible malware, Paste blocked." "Your Mac has not been harmed. Scammers often encourage pasting text into Terminal to try and harm your Mac or compromise your privacy...." There is also a "Paste Anyway" option if users still wish to proceed. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Read more »

Security Bite: Apple takes aim at cybercriminals’ more desperate tactic to infect Mac users
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. With the release of macOS 26.4, Apple is now warning users who it believes are about to paste malicious code into Terminal. The prompt is the latest blow to cybercriminals’ newest and, honestly, more desperate attack vector of getting unsuspecting Mac users to infect themselves. more…

Read more »

BenQ MA monitors display colors to match your MacBook screen – and you can win one
One of the key features of MacBooks is the care Apple takes over color calibration. That’s great when you’re using your MacBook, but things can change as soon as you plug it into an external monitor, when you can see markedly different colors. That’s because most monitor companies don’t tune their colors in the same way Apple does. But BenQ does exactly that with its latest MA series monitors … more…

Read more »

Indie App Spotlight: ‘Yogi Breath’ is a guided breathing app that progresses with you
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. If you’re someone looking to add more meditation to your life, Yogi Breath could be the right fit. Yogi Breath is a guided breathwork app that moves at your pace – with a number of helpful features to keep you motivated. more…

Read more »

Apple has serious plans for Siri! [Cult of Mac podcast No. 13]
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New details emerge about a major upgrade that would transform Siri from a laughingstock to a legitimate AI assistant. Unfortunately, these plans sound mighty familiar. Still, we’re guardedly optimistic that Apple can pull it off this time. Also on the Cult of Mac podcast: Now we know […] (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Here’s what I’d like to see with the MacBook Air redesign, after seeing MacBook Neo
Apple unveiled the MacBook Neo earlier this month, and in my opinion – it completely breaks the MacBook lineup as we knew it. If you’re someone who previously bought a MacBook Air, and you don’t need 16GB of RAM for heavier multitasking – why wouldn’t you buy the MacBook Neo now? In my eyes, the MacBook Neo is just as good of a general purpose laptop as the MacBook Air was, and besides more RAM, a much faster processor (though still a thermally limited one), and a larger display, it doesn’t feel like MacBook Air has much going for it – at least for now. Here’s how I’d improve it. more…

Read more »