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- Tuesday February 10
- 12:01 pmUK gets Apple and Google to agree to easy App Store changes
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has extracted promises from Apple and Google over their App Stores, really just bringing over the same features already in place in Europe.UK Parliament - image credit: ParliamentWhile the UK is no longer part of the European Union, its regulators have been slowly copying the EU's initiatives regarding Big Tech. In October 2025, for instance, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) designated Apple and Google as having "strategic market status."That's a synonym for the EU's gatekeeper term, and just as with the European Commission, the UK's CMA has given itself the right to regulate Apple and Google. According to Reuters, the CMA has announced that the two firms will now comply with its demands over making app stores fairer. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:59 amTwo reasons helped Apple hit record iPhone sales, and they’re both orange
Apple recently reported the best iPhone sales in the company’s history in the final quarter of last year. While the long-term trend has of course been upward, the company revealed a dramatic boost to the numbers. We’ve already seen analysts describe some of the reasons for this, but a new report suggests two additional factors – and both of them are the color orange … more…11:30 amIt’s over. The iPad won
Macworld Harken, if you will, back to a simpler time. A time when the Macalope’s columns were mostly concerned with dunking on people who said ridiculous things about Apple or Apple products. What happened to those days, Carol? We were so young. So full of life. Did you ever finish making that dating app? It was for people in open relationships in gated communities. What a terrible idea. But such was our pie-eyed optimism! The future was spread out before us like a cruise ship buffet, but without the botulism. And we didn’t have to talk about AI all freakin’ day long. Maybe it was all the AI ads the Macalope was forced to watch during the Super Bowl, featuring actual actors embarrassing themselves and the AI-rendered likenesses of actors virtually embarrassing themselves, that put the Macalope in a nostalgic frame of mind. Or maybe it was seeing this bit of current news: iPad Demand Surges as Apple Strengthens Grip on Tablet Market. Here we are 16 years into the iPad’s existence, and Apple’s device that’s “just a big iPhone!” still owns the tablet market that, while it didn’t create, it made a real thing. Omdia says that Apple shipped 19.6 million iPads in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 16.5 percent year-over-year increase…The fourth-quarter results increased Apple’s market share to 44.9 percent. Of course, the standard caveats about how good analysts’ estimates are apply (spoiler: not very good), but when you try to think about the last time you saw someone using an Android tablet, you realize these numbers are at least directionally correct if not precise. The fact that Apple continues to have the most market share and surely far more profit share is all wryly amusing to the horny one as he recalls roundly being told how the iPad was doomed because Android tablets were set to surpass it, the same way Android phones surpassed the iPhone.In 2010, one firm said the iPad “failed to convince buyers” after its unveiling because the number of people who said they were uninterested in the iPad nearly doubled. Small footnote to that survey that somehow didn’t make the headline: the number of people who said they _would_ like to buy an iPad tripled. The Macalope’s favorite pundit gag of 2011 was lauding the Motorola Xoom because it had 4G connectivity and the iPad 2 did not. Case closed! Advantage: Xoom! Oh, well, except, ha-ha, small note, just a tiny thing, really: the Xoom didn’t actually have it, either. It was simply promised that, at some point in the future, you’d be able to mail your Xoom in to add 4G to it. And that didn’t happen for seven months. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.Foundry Somehow, despite clearly being a better product in the eyes of pundits, Motorola sadly does not make the Xoom anymore. Or exist, because the company was sold for parts to Google and Lenovo. In 2012, we were told that Android tablets were “beating out the iPad in business and IT.” Oh, no! How did Android fans know? Because of the companies that had not already bought iPads, 44 percent said they were going to buy Android-based tablets. That… um… okay. That’s some real faith-based mathematical analysis, but… You do you. Apart from these people simply reading what they wanted to see in survey results, it’s important to point out that surveys of buying intent are notoriously garbage. So there’s that, too. The Macalope could go on for hours about how wrong pundits were about the iPad (and often does, be glad you don’t know him in real life). But as the numbers above show, this battle is largely over. And the iPad won. This year’s updates will likely be incremental because tablets as a whole are a mature market, and while Apple will wow us every few years by making them even thinner and more capable, the company’s not likely to get huge growth from the category in the future. Don’t fret, though. If you want real innovation in tablets–all sloppy and wet with weird results, like when Chicago invented deep dish pizza — a host of wacky companies are doing some craaazy things with e-ink screens. None are likely to hit the big time like the iPad, but the Macalope has found it fun to watch.11:00 amApple @ Work Podcast: Zero Trust is really a little trust
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle 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. In this episode of Apple @ Work, Avery Pennarun joins the show to discuss zero trust in the age of AI, building for technologies that don’t yet exist, and more. more…08:00 amThis lifetime deal brings the modern Microsoft Office experience without the monthly bill — now 60% off | MacworldThis lifetime deal brings the modern Microsoft Office experience without the monthly bill — now 60% off
Macworld TL;DR: This lifetime Microsoft Office 2024 license works for Mac or PC, and it’s on sale for $99.97 for a limited time. The main reason many people stick with Microsoft 365 is access to newer features, especially AI tools — but that advantage is gone. Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business delivers the latest versions of Microsoft’s apps with modern AI integrations, without locking you into a subscription. Instead of paying at least $99.99 every year, you can pay $99.97 once for lifetime access (MSRP $249.99). What’s included: Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook This version provides the latest updates for the core apps. In Word, that includes Focus Mode, which hides extra toolbars, and Smart Compose, which uses AI to suggest text as you write. PowerPoint adds built-in presentation recording with voice, video, and captions. Excel supports dynamic arrays and AI-driven data insights that can pull trends from large spreadsheets and suggest chart types. Outlook improves search and includes an updated accessibility checker that flags unclear language, formatting issues, and missing elements. If you don’t want to pay every month for productivity software you can own, don’t miss this deal. Right now, it’s only $99.97 to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac or PC. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.07:26 amChatGPT just crossed a big line by introducing ads
ChatGPT has begun showing ads to Free and Go users in the US, marking the first time a major AI chatbot has embraced advertising. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:01 amSpotlight got a huge upgrade in macOS Tahoe, here's how to use it
Apple's Spotlight feature has been around for a long time, but with macOS Tahoe, it enjoyed its biggest update in years. Here's how to make the most of its powerful new features.Spotlight has had a revamp with macOS TahoeSpotlight, never further than a keyboard shortcut away, has long been a quick and easy way to open apps and find files. But some Mac users chose to use more capable alternatives like Alfred and Raycast.Yet now with macOS Tahoe, Spotlight offers many of the same power user features of those apps, without the need to install anything. And because it's built into macOS, it's absolutely free. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:13 amDuckDuckGo adds free, encrypted real-time AI voice chat to Duck.ai
For those who choose to use AI as part of their search workflow, the feature is rolling out for free with daily limits, with higher caps for DuckDuckGo subscribers. Here are the details. more…12:17 amA new Apple Watch app for Rivian electric vehicles is in the works
A dedicated Apple Watch application from automaker Rivian is set to enable vehicle locking, unlocking, window adjustment, and much more, even on cars from 2021.Rivian is set to launch a dedicated Apple Watch app.Apple's Car Key feature has let iPhone and Apple Watch owners unlock and start their cars using mobile devices since 2020. The capability is built into iOS and is supported by more than 30 car companies, including Cadillac and other GM brands.However, certain car manufacturers, like Tesla, offer proprietary mobile apps that facilitate the same vehicle locking and unlocking functionality. Now, Rivian is set to be the next brand to introduce a vehicle-related application for the Apple Watch, with added functionality. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our ForumsMonday February 0911:56 pmLast call: Update Apple Home by tomorrow, or your HomeKit setup may stop working
If you’re still running Apple Home on the old HomeKit architecture, this is your final reminder: Apple’s migration deadline is tomorrow, February 10. Here’s how to update. more…10:59 pmRivian launching Apple Watch app with remote controls and Gen 1 digital key feature
Back in December, Rivian released support for using an Apple Watch as a digital key. Next, the EV maker is launching a dedicated Apple Watch app with remote access and control capabilities. more…10:49 pmDiscord's upcoming safety update makes age verification hard to avoid
Discord plans to set every user's account to teen-by-default — unless you're willing to undergo an invasive age verification process.Discord will require age verification for adult accessOn Monday, Discord, a popular social app, announced that it will be rolling out "enhanced teen safety features." According to the company, beginning in March."[A]ll new and existing users worldwide will have a teen-appropriate experience by default, with updated communication settings, restricted access to age-gated spaces, and content filtering that preserves the privacy and meaningful connections that define Discord." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:27 pmApple ad shows how England Rugby makes use of the iPad and MacBook Pro
Apple's latest video ad outlines why the iPad and MacBook Pro are necessary tools for England Rugby's performance analysis team.England Rugby uses Apple hardware for game analysis. Image Credit: Apple.Time and time again, the iPhone has proven itself as a useful tool for sporting events, with Major League Soccer already using the device to record matches.Even the Maracana Stadium is set to make use of an iPhone-powered offside camera system in 2026. Still, the iPhone isn't the only piece of Apple hardware that continues to see use in sports. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums10:21 pmWhatsApp Web starts rolling out voice and video calls
The feature is now starting to reach WhatsApp Web beta users, with a wider rollout expected for the coming weeks. Here’s how it works. more…10:15 pmApple Original Films lands global rights to Sundance Film Festival selection ‘The Last First: Winter K2’ | Mac Daily NewsApple Original Films lands global rights to Sundance Film Festival selection ‘The Last First: Winter K2’
Apple Original Films has announced it will expand its documentary feature slate with “The Last First: Winter K2,” the acclaimed Sundance… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.10:05 pmHow Siri Could Become the Mac’s New Help System
Apple’s help systems have never quite worked out. But with large language models and richer app metadata, a more helpful Siri could finally become the knowledgeable guide that explains the software we’re already using.09:26 pmApple TV is about to bring back two of its best sci-fi series
Apple TV has a deep bench of acclaimed sci-fi series, and two of its best are coming back soon: the Godzilla-starring Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and space race drama For All Mankind. more…09:05 pmWhy an M5 MacBook Pro launch in March keeps the M6 OLED dream alive this year
Per Mark Gurman in his weekend Power On newsletter, Apple is preparing to launch M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros as early as the week of March 2. For those waiting on the major redesign with OLED displays and touch support, this spec bump revision that we expect first can’t come soon enough. Does waiting another month for the M5 Pro update to arrive rule out an M6 Pro release in 2026? There’s a good reason to keep the M6 Pro MacBook Pro dream alive this year. more…09:03 pmApple’s ‘The Studio’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’ score at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards | Mac Daily NewsApple’s ‘The Studio’ and ‘Mr. Scorsese’ score at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards
Apple on Saturday landed three wins at the 78th Annual Directors Guild Awards, including Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:41 pmApple highlights how England Rugby uses iPads and Macs to analyze live match data
Apple has kicked off a new campaign, titled Apple at Play, showcasing how England Rugby uses Apple devices for in-game analysis. Watch it below. more…