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- Thursday October 30
- 04:06 pmiPhone 17: Here’s what it costs to repair broken parts yourself
Apple has now made self-service repair parts available for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone Air. Here’s what it costs to repair broken parts yourself. more…03:45 pmDeals: 24GB Mac mini $100 off, M4 MacBook Pro nearly $600 off, iPhone Air Bumper $30, more | 9 to 5 MacDeals: 24GB Mac mini $100 off, M4 MacBook Pro nearly $600 off, iPhone Air Bumper $30, more
Thursday’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break deals are now ready to roll starting with a $100 price drop on the most affordable 24GB M4 Mac mini you can buy and a pair of big-time open-box discounts on M4 Pro MacBook Pro with a full Apple warranty at up $598 off (a new 16-inch deal popped up this morning). We also have the official Apple iPhone Air Bumper case down at $30, an ongoing all-time low on Apple’s brand new 25W Qi2 MagSafe charger, and all of the M4 MacBook Air configurations at $200 off. Scope it all out below. more…03:45 pmThreads rolls out reply approvals and new activity feed filters
Meta is introducing two more features designed to give Threads users more control over the conversations that happen around their posts. Here’s what’s new. more…03:44 pmNvidia’s Huang joins Apple, other tech titans funding President Trump’s new White House State Ballroom | Mac Daily NewsNvidia’s Huang joins Apple, other tech titans funding President Trump’s new White House State Ballroom
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced a personal donation to fund the construction of President Donald Trump's White House State Ballroom… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:40 pmGet a pair of AirPods Pro 2 with a 365-day return policy for just $140 today
Macworld We’re used to seeing AirPods Pro 2 for $199 and even as low as $169, but we’ve never seen them this cheap. Amazon is selling a pair of Renewed Premium AirPods Pro 2 for just $140, a whopping $109 off Apple’s MSRP and a fantastic price. Amazon says these Renewed Premium AirPods Pro 2 have been tested and are in perfect order with at least 90 percent battery health. They come with accessories equivalent to those shipping in the original box (MagSafe Charging Case with speaker and lanyard loop, silicone ear tips (four sizes: XS, S, M, L), and a USB-C to USB-C cable), and have a 365-day return policy, so you can get your money back at any time. The 2nd-gen AirPods Pro are no longer Apple’s flagship earbuds, with the AirPods Pro 3 taking that spot, but they’re still one of our favorites. They offer exceptional audio quality and industry-leading noise cancellation, and we appreciated the earbuds enough to give them a 4.5-star rating when we reviewed them. And with the Hearing Health and Live Translation, they’re packed with features. And at $140, it’s hard to find a better deal on premium earbuds. So, don’t miss your chance—grab the AirPods Pro 2 before this deal disappears! Get the AirPods Pro 2 with a massive discountBuy now at Amazon03:30 pmToday in Apple history: iPhone goes on sale in China for first time
On October 30, 2009, the iPhone finally launched in China, giving Apple access to the world's largest market for the first time. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:11 pmiOS 26’s Camera app hides key features, here’s how to find them
iOS 26 introduced perhaps the biggest overhaul yet for Apple’s Camera app. But some users might find that many of their favorite features are missing. Here’s how to find them. more…02:38 pmTrump cuts China tariff that costs Apple billions
Apple's iPhone tariff is slashed by 50%, potentially saving the company billions. And that’s not the only good news from a Trump/Xi meeting. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:38 pmTrump cuts China tariff that costs Apple billions
Apple's iPhone tariff is slashed by 50%, potentially saving the company billions. And that’s not the only good news from a Trump/Xi meeting. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:32 pmCarPlay in iOS 26 upgrades your display with a familiar iPhone feature
iOS 26 is a huge update for CarPlay users, with more new features than we’ve seen in years. One addition that’s especially noteworthy is the introduction of widgets to CarPlay for the first time. more…02:00 pmSlim wall charger blows away anything from Apple [Review] ★★★★☆
Our hands-on review of the Satechi OntheGo 67W Slim Wall Charger shows it makes anything from Apple seem bulky, slow and limited. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:57 pmApple TV announces new holiday film specials and free offerings
Apple TV has announced its lineup of holiday-themed offerings for viewers, including classic holiday specials that can be viewed even without a subscription. Here are all the details. more…01:49 pmThis dock transforms the Mac mini into a retro classic Mac
It’s becoming increasingly rare to find a tech accessory in 2025 that’s both functional and fun to use. As so many of these accessories become more commoditized, they begin to function and look the same, making them fade into the background. So when I saw the Wokyis Retro Docking Station for the M4 Mac mini, I was immediately intrigued. It transforms the Mac mini into something straight out of 1984. On paper, it had all the functions I needed out of a dock, but it was also such a cool-looking product. After using it for three weeks, it checked off every box. Here is what you need to know. more…01:47 pmAvast Free Antivirus for Mac review: Basic protection, for free
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Easy installation and setup Solid customization options such as whitelists, exceptions, and scheduled scans Handy network tools like Traffic Monitor and Network Inspector Cons Steady stream of ads, upgrade prompts, and assorted locked features The Web Guard module failed to catch obvious scam links The Scam Guard failed to detect scam, phishing, and ransom attempts Our Verdict Avast Free Antivirus for Mac delivers on its historically strong antivirus/anti-malware tools and offers some interesting network tools. However, the inConsistent web filtering and the failure of its AI-powered Scam Guard module, drags down the free version of one of the better security options for macOS. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price Avast Software – Avast Free Antivirus Free View Deal Avast Software – Avast One Essential Free View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Avast Free Antivirus Retailer Price Avast Software – Avast Free Antivirus Free View Deal Avast Software – Avast One Essential Free View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There’s a distinction that every software company’s marketing department has to make in terms of what’s a demo, what’s a free trial, what’s a teaser, and what’s the fully-featured version of a product it intends to release. The free version of Avast Security for the Mac, Avast Free Antivirus, combines a powerful antiviral/anti-malware core with several other modules, each with its own varying degree of success. Downloading and installing the software is simple; Avast Free Antivirus requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later to install. The installer, somewhat surprisingly, places an uninstaller application in your Mac’s Applications folder for easy removal, a nod to convenience. Once installed, the software both creates a network extension for itself and requests full access to your Mac’s hard drive, which is handled without any undue fuss by the installer. Like similar Mac antivirus applications, Avast’s antivirus suite is centered around several modules (Smart Scan, Virus Scans, Scam Guardian, Traffic Monitor, Network Inspector, Email Guard, Ransomware Shield, Core Shields, and Quarantine), each with its own settings and functions. The Smart Scan updates virus definitions and performs a surface-level viral scan, while its Advanced Issues feature scans for ransomware, network vulnerabilities, and fake website threats. However, you will need to subscribe to unlock additional features. Expect ads to pop up frequently offering Avast Security’s upgraded subscription package and its expanded feature set. Other modules, such as Traffic Monitor, follow up on features available in previous versions, and it’s fun to see where your internet traffic is traveling through and how much data you’re using. The Network Inspector takes this to the next level and offers a full network scan as well as a list of every device currently on the network, so you can be made aware if a device has connected that shouldn’t be there. Granted, this is only a casual set of network controls compared to a dedicated application, but it’s a nice tool to have on hand if you’re curious as to what’s happening on your network. The Virus Scans module is the heart of the app as you would expect, and there’s a lot to complement it on. Avast’s viral definitions are up to date, the application can scan .zip and .dmg archives, there’s a good level of customization with the preferences, and it’s easy to build a whitelist. Scanning external volumes is easy, and the scheduling function works well, but the function itself doesn’t jump up and declare that it’s running; you have to go into the Virus Scans module to watch it function. The Deep Scan feature is speedy, even if it could benefit from a timer declaring how much time has passed and/or an ETA as to how much time is remaining, and the overall antiviral element teams up well with the macOS’ Gatekeeper and Xprotect systems, which block everything that’s suspect (you genuinely have to bypass various dialog screens warning you as to what you’re about to do wrong to install malware). This, in turn, corresponds well with the Core Shields module, making it that much harder to install malware on your Mac. The free version of Avast’s Antivirus found lots of threats. Foundry Unfortunately, the remaining modules are locked by subscription. The Email Guard module is handy and ties into 22 different types of email accounts (such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.), but it is only available with a Premium account, and there’s no option to try it out without paying (with a subscription it provides decent warnings about spam and scam emails.) The Web Guard module’s success rate is sporadic, and after clicking through to dozens of questionable links in my Gmail spam folder, it let me visit the link that claimed I had an almost $14,000 cash payment waiting for me, but caught other scam-related links and directed me away from them as needed. Ransomware Shield, the accompanying sister module, also requires an upgraded account to access, and again, no demo is available in the free version, presenting a missed opportunity to show what the software is capable of. The Scam Guard module, an AI-assisted application, didn’t work very well in the free version of Avast Antivirus Free. You can drag and drop emails, images, and other files onto it in order to determine how scam-related they might be. Unfortunately this wound up being a disaster. While an innocuous .jpg file of a sleeping puppy came up as non-scam-related, when I dropped more questionable emails onto it, it offered no feedback that the content was linked to something scam-related. Just a cute puppy. Foundry The module failed completely when I dropped in a PDF file of a Bitcoin ransom scam email, claiming I’ve been videotaped via my webcam and that this would be sent to my friends, family, and contacts unless several thousand dollars were sent via Bitcoin to the sender. This is the height of a phishing attempt, a ransom attempt through and through, which the Scam Guardian module failed to interpret correctly. The AI assistant was of no help whatsoever. Just how much you should expect from a free antivirus is arguable, but Avast does clain that the Free Antivirus includes the AI-powered anti-scam protection, defense against online scams, and safer browsing and emailing, so really it’s fair to expect that those elements would work. Avast will readily let you know that its Ultimate subscription tier is available for free for 60 days, and all you have to do is enter a credit or debit card or PayPal information to set this up, and it states that nothing is due today and that you’ll receive a reminder seven days before billing. If you wish to upgrade from Avast’s free version, the retail version sells for $4.09 per month for the first year with support for one Mac, or $49.08 for the first year if paid in full. Read our full review of Avast Premium Security. Should you use Avast Free Antivirus Is Avast’s free version worth trying out? Yes. The antiviral/anti-malware core is as good as it ever was, if not better, and the supporting modules largely round it out and add to its functionality. Still, the Web Guard is hit or miss, the Scam Guard felt like the Hindenburg on an off day during testing, and the constant barrage of reminders to upgrade to the paid subscription tiers is annoying. There’s something credible here, but this application doesn’t know where it stands between freeware, trialware, and a fully-featured retail version, and there’s something to be said for releasing a fully-featured trial version for a given period of time and letting the user see what the software can actually do.01:41 pmWhatsApp now supports passkeys for backups
Your live WhatsApp messages and backups are both protected by end-to-end encryption, but so far you’ve only had the option of using a passkey to access your messages. Accessing backups required a password instead. That’s all changing now as the company is in the process of rolling out passkey support for backups … more…01:25 pmDeck the halls this holiday season with Apple TV
Apple TV celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with an expansive lineup of programming for the whole family, including the all-new… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:00 pmMother Describes the Dark Side of Apple's Family Sharing
An anonymous reader quotes a report from 9to5Mac: A mother with court-ordered custody of her children has described how Apple's Family Sharing feature can be weaponized by a former partner. Apple support staff were unable to assist her when she reported her former partner using the service in controlling and coercive ways... [...] Namely, Family Sharing gives all the control to one parent, not to both equally. The parent not identified as the organizer is unable to withdraw their children from this control, even when they have a court order granting them custody. As one woman's story shows, this can allow the feature which allows it to be weaponized by an abusive former partner. Wired reports: "The lack of dual-organizer roles, leaving other parents effectively as subordinate admins with more limited power, can prove limiting and frustrating in blended and shared households. And in darker scenarios, a single-organizer setup isn't merely inconvenient -- it can be dangerous. Kate (name changed to protect her privacy and safety) knows this firsthand. When her marriage collapsed, she says, her now ex-husband, the designated organizer, essentially weaponized Family Sharing. He tracked their children's locations, counted their screen minutes and demanded they account for them, and imposed draconian limits during Kate's custody days while lifting them on his own [...] After they separated, Kate's ex refused to disband the family group. But without his consent, the children couldn't be transferred to a new one. "I wrongly assumed being the custodial parent with a court order meant I'd be able to have Apple move my children to a new family group, with me as the organizer," says Kate. But Apple couldn't help. Support staff sympathized but said their hands were tied because the organizer holds the power." Although users can "abandon the accounts and start again with new Apple IDs," the report notes that doing so means losing all purchased apps, along with potentially years' worth of photos and videos. Read more of this story at Slashdot.12:58 pmExpect more AI slop in Instagram, and more ads in Threads
Today isn’t a great day for users of Meta apps. Mark Zuckerberg has told us to expect a “huge corpus” of AI content in Facebook and Instagram, while the company’s CFO Susan Li has said that ads in Threads are now running globally and that video ads are on the way … more…12:46 pmDon't get too excited yet about the China tariff cut
Thursday's announcement about a halving of tariffs on goods shipped from China only applies to the summer's back-and-forth between the two nations, and not the "reciprocal" tariffs applied in April that Apple has already warned about.Tim Cook and Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House in 2018Apple won an exemption on future semiconductor tariffs — at least temporarily — after investing $100 billion in the US. But it is still subject to Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, and the new truce negotiated with China does not affect that.According to the New York Times, Trump has agreed with China's Xi Jinping, to halve his fentanyl-related tariffs, which were announced over summer 2025. In its turn, China has agreed to suspend for a year its limits on exporting rare earth materials. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:12 pmProton Data Breach Observatory reports as soon as your personal data hits the dark web
Security-conscious readers probably already use the data breach alert site Have I Been Pwned, but a new Proton website is aiming to alert you at an earlier stage with what the company says will be near real-time reporting. The company behind ProtonMail says it has launched the Data Breach Observatory because it can sometimes take too long to find out when your personal data has been made available for sale on the dark web … more…