Gentler Streak rolls out Weekly Activity Recaps
Following a brief beta period, Gentler Streak was updated today with a new Weekly Activity Recap feature. Here’s what it looks like. more…

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I finally switched from a MacBook to an iPad Pro, and I’m not going back
Macworld As a minimalist, I’ve long wanted to replace the 13-inch MacBook Air M2 I use for work with a slimmer and more portable iPad. Until this year, the rational voice in my head warned me that the tablet’s various limitations made this a bad investment, but everything changed with the launch of iPadOS 26. Its more advanced multitasking system brings the mobile OS closer to macOS, and me one step closer to my dream work setup. Following the iPad Pro M5’s debut, I came across a heavily discounted M4 model. Given that the two generations share most of the same tech specs, I decided to opt for a 13-inch iPad Pro M4, paired with a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro. To test the practicality of using iPadOS for work, I put my MacBook away and relied solely on the iPad Pro M4 for a week. Here’s how it went. Aesthetic vs practical design The most noticeable difference between the iPad Pro M4 and MacBook Air M2 lies in their form factors. The former device is lighter, thinner, and more portable. It genuinely blows my mind how slim the iPad has become, despite packing a desktop-class chip. I also appreciate the switch to Face ID, which is infinitely more reliable and convenient for me than Touch ID. Thin different: The iPad Pro’s svelte design, viewed from the bottom edge.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Perhaps the best part of this versatile setup is the ability to easily detach the iPad from the Magic Keyboard whenever needed, further reducing its size and weight. Those who rely on wired earbuds, however, will miss the MacBook’s headphone jack. Other iPad compromises include its physical stability. Balancing it on surfaces that aren’t straight or solid, such as your lap or bed, can sometimes be challenging. Interacting with the Magic Keyboard’s hinge also doesn’t feel as natural when compared to a MacBook. More input methods One of the main reasons behind my switch is the iPad Pro’s superior OLED screen. Not only is it sharper and more vibrant, but it also supports touch and Apple Pencil input. Admittedly, I miss the wider, pressure-sensitive trackpad offered by the MacBook Air. Nonetheless, the one embedded into the Magic Keyboard has a comparable feel and supports haptic feedback. The keyboard is similarly backlit and comfortable for long typing sessions. The Apple Pencil Pro has many uses, such as writing “Macworld” in a lovely blue.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Inferior multitasking While the upgraded windowing system introduced with iPadOS 26 makes the iPad more practical for work, there’s more to multitasking than just opening multiple app windows. For example, certain keyboard shortcuts I’m used to don’t work in third-party iPad apps. Likewise, iPadOS hasn’t yet adopted the reimagined Spotlight Search with clipboard history brought by macOS Tahoe. Other omissions include the iPhone Mirroring app, which I used to depend on, and support for using Apple TV 4K as a wireless second monitor (not just vanilla mirroring). In general, I find myself spending more time getting the same tasks done, as certain flows are different—or completely nonexistent—on iPadOS. My muscle memory will adapt with time, I suppose. But overall, multitasking on the iPad is definitely inferior to that offered by the MacBook. The iPad Pro’s multitasking system is impressive, but it still can’t match that of macOS.Mahmoud Itani / Foundry Better apps One thing I dislike about using macOS is the more limited availability of native applications. Many developers, such as Google, avoid releasing dedicated desktop apps, forcing users to opt for their websites instead. Meanwhile, the software library on iPadOS is seemingly more comprehensive, and apps tend to be more polished. This has elevated my computing experience, as I no longer need to use wonky web apps as often. Shorter battery life Arguably, the biggest drawback of this setup is the iPad Pro’s shorter battery life—which, in a way, makes it less portable. Despite my 3-year-old MacBook Air M2’s battery health dropping to 82%, the laptop still lasts me longer on a single charge than the brand-new iPad Pro M4. And the iPad’s battery life will only get worse with time, which has discouraged me from connecting it to a cellular plan. Another consequence of the slim design is the more frequent overheating when running intensive tasks. While for obvious reasons the iPad Pro M4’s performance is miles ahead, its body tends to get warm faster than the M2 MacBook Air. This could be why Apple reportedly plans to implement a vapor chamber to improve the thermal management on the upcoming iPad Pro M6. A MacBook replacement (terms apply) My everyday computing needs revolve around researching, typing, and photo-editing, and the iPad Pro excels at all of them. As such, I will continue to use it as my main work machine for the foreseeable future. It has essentially replaced my MacBook Air M2. Nevertheless, I will also keep my MacBook around for activities that remain macOS exclusives, such as HomePod mini OS recovery. My world has flipped: My iPad Pro is now a functional laptop replacement… and I only need to keep my Mac around for specific, uncommon use cases.

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Cancelled 'Time Bandits' tops Children's Emmy nominations
Apple TV has earned 23 nominations for the forthcoming Children's and Family Emmy Awards, with "Time Bandits" leading the list.Lisa Kudrow in "Time Bandits"The TV series adaptation of the 1981 "Time Bandits" movie lasted only a single season on Apple TV before being cancelled. But the show, which had been in the works since 2018, has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences."Time Bandits" has been nominated in seven categories: Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s 40W Dynamic Power charger offers support for new battery charging specs, quick voltage changes on the fly
This is honestly pretty nifty. A quick rundown by the very cool cats at AppleInsider dives into Apple’s recently-released 40W Dynamic Power charger, which appears to be a fairly typical USB-C power adapter, but supports up to 60W, and is able to charge an iPhone 17 to 50 percent battery capacity, something no other charger […] Source

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Apple Wallet support added for the state of Illinois as of today
The Apple Wallet application now supports an expanded number of state IDs and driver’s licenses as of today. The state of Illinois has officially announced that beginning today, iPhone users will be able to add their driver’s license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app for digital access. With the addition of Illinois, support […] Source

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Unlock every major AI model forever for just one $75 payment
Macworld TL;DR: Skip the AI chaos and get lifetime access to all the top models—GPT-4o, Claude 3, Gemini, Llama, and more with 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan—for just $74.97, the lowest price ever. AI can make life easier… unless you’re juggling six tabs, three subscriptions, and two different passwords you forgot to save. That’s why 1min.AI is such a breath of fresh air—and right now, you can get lifetime access to the Advanced Business Plan for just $74.97 (MSRP $540), the lowest price it’s ever hit. Instead of bouncing between apps, 1min.AI puts all the major models—GPT-4o, Claude 3, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, Cohere—into one clean, simple dashboard. Whether you’re brainstorming content, generating images, editing PDFs, writing emails, analyzing data, or cleaning up audio, everything happens in one place. It’s like giving your workflow a personal assistant who never needs coffee. Writers get article generators and keyword tools. Designers get image editors and background removers. Teams get chatbots and brand voice tools. And everyone gets weekly updates that keep the platform feeling fresh. Even better: you can literally ask different assistants anything—from business strategy to creative ideas to technical breakdowns. No juggling subscriptions. No chaos. No drama. Get lifetime 1min.AI’s Advanced Business Plan access for just $74.97 (MSRP $540) for a limited time. 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Don’t miss Microsoft Office licenses on sale for $40
Macworld TL;DR: Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac just dropped to $39.97, including access to all the staple apps for a one-time price (MSRP $229). Monthly Microsoft 365 fees add up fast, but you don’t have to keep paying them just to use your favorite tools. For a very limited time, there’s a small batch of Microsoft Office 2019 lifetime licenses available for $39.97, and they’re going quickly (MSRP $229). Act fast if you want to secure a lifetime download for your Mac! What’s included with Office 2019 This lifetime license comes with Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook Teams OneNote While these are slightly older versions than what’s available in Microsoft 365, they still get the job done. And because they’re a little older, they may also play nicely with older machines. The hardware requirements are minimal, and you can go as far back as macOS 14 and still run your software just fine. Download Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac at $39.97 while you still can (MSRP $229). No coupon is needed. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for MacSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Apple's M5 MacBook Pro is on sale for record low $1,447, plus save up to $500
A new low price is available on Apple's M5 MacBook Pro, plus save up to $500 on M4 Pro and M4 Max models, as Amazon competes for your business this holiday season.Save up to $500 on Apple's MacBook Pro with holiday deals - Image credit: AppleA steeper price drop is in effect at Amazon as Black Friday approaches, with Apple's new M5 MacBook Pro dropping to $1,447 — a $152 discount off MSRP. This is the lowest price we've seen on the standard configuration since the 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's M5 chip debuted in October. The Silver version is priced at $1,447, while the Space Black finish is $2 more at $1,449.Buy M5 MacBook Pro for $1,447 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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LibrePods finally brings real AirPods support to Android
An open-source Android app brings true AirPods functionality on Android, adding native-style controls, battery info, and smarter integration. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iPadOS 26: How to use Quick Notes or take a screenshot with a swipe
If you're a long-time iPad owner, you might wonder why you can't swipe to access Quick Notes or take a screenshot on iPadOS 26. The good news is that you can, and we'll show you how.Quickly take notes by swiping on an iPadSwiping from the corner of your iPad to quickly take a note or a screenshot has been a feature for years. But with iPadOS 26, gaining a new multitasking system, Apple has repurposed the swipe, causing confusion among upgraders.With iPadOS 26's new windowed multitasking enabled, swiping from the corner of an iPad resizes the current app. But don't worry, there are a couple of ways to get the old functionality back. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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HidrateSpark Pro 2 review: motivational drinking with lights, chimes, & Find My
The HidrateSpark Pro 2 makes tracking your water intake easy and fun with Apple Health integration, Find My, and plenty of options for drinking alerts.HidrateSpark Pro 2 reviewIf there's one thing you need to know about your health as a human being, it's that you're probably not drinking enough water. Being properly hydrated can help you stay awake, focused, feeling healthy, and motivated throughout the day.I've actually been a happy HidrateSpark user for years, and when I saw the HidrateSpark Pro 2, I knew I needed to review it. They stepped up their design, added Apple Find My support, and continued their Apple Health integration. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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I can’t work on my Mac without this little keypad anymore
Offloading keyboard shortcuts to a programmable macro keypad is the best productivity hack I’ve ever done. more…

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How to charge your Apple Watch as fast as possible
One of the more useful changes to recent Apple Watch models is support for fast charging. This allows you to quickly top off your Apple Watch battery at much faster speeds than before. Plus, with the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, charging is even faster than before. There are a few things to remember, and you don’t get everything you need in the box… more…

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Apple Hit with $634 Million Verdict as Blood Oxygen Battle Drags On
The Apple–Masimo fight over watch‑based blood‑oxygen monitoring has escalated with a $634 million jury award and a fresh ITC review of Apple’s workaround.

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Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad get firmware updates
The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Apple's 140W USB-C power adapter all have new firmware that will install automatically when connected to a device.The Magic Keyboard with USB-C received a firmware update on Tuesday, as did other Apple accessories.On Tuesday, following the release of iOS 26.2 beta 3, firmware updates were issued for several Apple peripherals. This includes the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a number pad, as well as the Magic Trackpad and Magic Trackpad 2.This is the first firmware update these accessories have received since October 2024, when the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad were upgraded with USB-C ports. This was done to bring the products into compliance with the European Union's requirement that consumer electronics use a common charger by 2024. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad get firmware updates
The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Apple's 140W USB-C power adapter all have new firmware that will install automatically when connected to a device.The Magic Keyboard with USB-C received a firmware update on Tuesday, as did other Apple accessories.On Tuesday, following the release of iOS 26.2 beta 3, firmware updates were issued for several Apple peripherals. This includes the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a number pad, as well as the Magic Trackpad and Magic Trackpad 2.This is the first firmware update these accessories have received since October 2024, when the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad were upgraded with USB-C ports. This was done to bring the products into compliance with the European Union's requirement that consumer electronics use a common charger by 2024. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad get firmware updates
The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Apple's 140W USB-C power adapter all have new firmware that will install automatically when connected to a device.The Magic Keyboard with USB-C received a firmware update on Tuesday, as did other Apple accessories.On Tuesday, following the release of iOS 26.2 beta 3, firmware updates were issued for several Apple peripherals. This includes the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a number pad, as well as the Magic Trackpad and Magic Trackpad 2.This is the first firmware update these accessories have received since October 2024, when the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad were upgraded with USB-C ports. This was done to bring the products into compliance with the European Union's requirement that consumer electronics use a common charger by 2024. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad get firmware updates
The Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Apple's 140W USB-C power adapter all have new firmware that will install automatically when connected to a device.The Magic Keyboard with USB-C received a firmware update on Tuesday, as did other Apple accessories.On Tuesday, following the release of iOS 26.2 beta 3, firmware updates were issued for several Apple peripherals. This includes the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a number pad, as well as the Magic Trackpad and Magic Trackpad 2.This is the first firmware update these accessories have received since October 2024, when the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad were upgraded with USB-C ports. This was done to bring the products into compliance with the European Union's requirement that consumer electronics use a common charger by 2024. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Cloudflare Outage Takes Down Large Swaths of the Internet
This morning’s Cloudflare outage impacted millions of websites worldwide, exposing a troubling truth about modern Internet infrastructure: a handful of companies now control critical chokepoints that can take down significant portions of the Web.

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Report Claims That Apple Has Yet Again Put the Mac Pro 'On the Back Burner'
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Apple's Power Mac and Mac Pro towers used to be the company's primary workstations, but it has been years since they were updated with the same regularity as the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The Mac Pro has seen just four hardware updates in the last 15 years, and that's counting a 2012 refresh that was mostly identical to the 2010 version. Long-suffering Mac Pro buyers may have taken heart when Apple finally added an M2 Ultra processor to the tower in mid-2023, making it one of the very last Macs to switch from Intel to Apple Silicon -- surely this would mean that the computer would at least be updated once every year or two, like the Mac Studio has been? But Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that Mac Pro buyers shouldn't get their hopes up for new hardware in 2026. Gurman says that the tower is "on the back burner" at Apple and that the company is "focused on a new Mac Studio" for the next-generation M5 Ultra chip that is in the works. As we reported earlier this year, Apple doesn't have plans to design or release an M4 Ultra, and the Mac Studio refresh from this spring included an M3 Ultra alongside the M4 Max. Note that Gurman carefully stops short of saying we definitely won't see a Mac Pro update next year -- the emphasis on the Mac Studio merely "suggests the Mac Pro won't be updated in 2026 in a significant way," and internal sources tell him "Apple has largely written off the Mac Pro." The current Mac Pro does still use the M2 Ultra rather than the M3 Ultra, which indicates that Apple doesn't see the need to update its high-end desktop every time it releases a suitable chip. But all of Apple's other desktops -- the iMac, the Mac mini, and the Studio -- have skipped a silicon generation once since the M1 came out in 2020. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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