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- Wednesday February 04
- 04:02 pmApple TV’s ‘Cape Fear’ series, starring Javier Bardem and Amy Adams, debuts June 5th | Mac Daily NewsApple TV’s ‘Cape Fear’ series, starring Javier Bardem and Amy Adams, debuts June 5th
Tuesday, Apple TV announced that its new psychological horror thriller series “Cape Fear” will make its global debut on Friday, June 5, 2026… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:59 pmCarPlay could make a splash in an unexpected vehicle
While Tesla may be the last automaker anyone expected to consider CarPlay, there’s an even more unlikely vehicle maker that could adopt Apple’s infotainment feature in the future. more…03:55 pmApple Xcode unleashes AI agents for faster app creation
With a new update, Xcode adds AI coding agents so devs can work directly with the likes of Anthropic's Claude Agent and OpenAI's Codex. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:52 pmAlexa+ is now available to every US customer, new Siri still absent
There's a new, improved voice assistant rolling out to users today — and no, it's not Apple Intelligence-powered Siri.Alexa+ is now available to US customers, and Prime members get it for freeOn February 4, Amazon announced that Alexa+, its next-generation voice assistant powered by generative AI, is now available for users in the U.S.Prime members will get the feature for free. At the same time, non-Prime subscribers can access it for $19.99 a month, which is odd, considering that Amazon Prime is $139, or $14.99 per month for most. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:49 pmHands-on: this tiny SSD is the most iPhone-friendly external drive yet
Storage on Apple devices has always been a sensitive subject. Whether it’s for an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you always pay the highest premium when upgrading the internal storage. An iPhone 17 Pro Max can go from $1199 for its 256GB entry-level model to $2000 for the 2TB model. That’s an additional $800 just for storage on your iPhone. So, for anyone shooting photos, working with large files, or recording Apple ProRes video on iPhone, those storage limits show up fast. I always recommend people get external storage rather than internal storage, since you can get 16TB for $800 these days! But external storage, specifically with iPhones, poses other challenges, like cables, mounts, and setups that can make things feel clunky. So when I saw the new Planck SSD and how tiny, compact, and purpose-built it was for iPhone, I had to check it out. more…03:43 pmThe iPhone 17e might launch in mere weeks
Macworld Despite the company’s best efforts to keep its product launches secret, details about Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 17e are circulating among case and accessory makers. One such source with knowledge of the matter indicates that the device could launch as early as mid-February. Rather curiously, this comes precisely a year after the launch of the iPhone 16e. The 19th is a Thursday, which is unusual: Apple usually announces new products on a Monday or Tuesday, or less frequently on a Wednesday. Apple doesn’t share information about upcoming launches with case and accessory makers, but companies often use inside information to time their own releases alongside Apple’s. So while it’s possible that this is an educated guess based on simply adding a year to last year’s launch, it could also be backed up by industry rumblings. Apple already announced a new AirTag last Monday and is rumored to be readying the M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros for launch in early February. As Apple is more likely to announce the new iPhone via a press release, as it did with the iPhone 16e, it could theoretically arrive at any time. One big change, but not much else Our industry sources confirm that the iPhone 17e will address one of the main criticisms of the iPhone 16e. The new smartphone is reportedly equipped with MagSafe (wireless charging up to 25W), whereas the 16e missed MagSafe altogether and used the slower 7.5W Qi wireless standard. The upcoming model will most likely continue to feature only a single camera lens on the back, and the notch will also remain in this generation, with the Dynamic Island likely to be at least a generation or two away from the “e” section of Apple’s phone portfolio. Rumors about the iPhone 17e have been circulating for several months. Most recently, The Information claimed that the device will be equipped with MagSafe, which now seems to be confirmed. It is also expected that Apple will incorporate the next generation of the C1 modem. The iPhone 16e also doesn’t have the U1 or U2 ultra-wideband chip for Precision Finding, but with the launch of the new AirTag, it’s possible Apple could bring that functionality to the new model With the iPhone 16e and 17e arriving in the spring and the flagship models coming in the fall, Apple is establishing a twice-yearly release cadence for its iPhones. Rumor has it that Cupertino plans to shift the entry-level iPhone 18 launch o join the 18e in 2027. For all the latest news and rumors about this year’s launch, check out our iPhone 17e superguide.03:37 pmApple Sports app tees off with golf coverage
Get ready for golf on Apple Sports! Track live scores, stats and standings for PGA and LPGA events all in one app. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:26 pmHow chip packaging changes will make M5 Pro, M5 Max run cooler and faster
Apple's imminent M5 Pro and M5 Max chips will run cooler and faster than ever before, as a year-old rumor about the way Apple Silicon chips are packaged resurfaces.Dies on wafers - Image credit: TSMCApple is anticipated to bring out the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips as part of a MacBook Pro update in early 2026. However, while performance improvements are expected for the higher-tier chips, the way they are produced will make as much of an impact as improving clock speeds and core counts.In a February 3 Weibo post, serial leaker Fixed Focus Digital added more context to a comment they made a few days earlier, on January 31. At that time, they said that the upper M5 chips will use TSMC's SoIC packaging, which had also reduced in cost to perform. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:01 pmApple TV reveals first-look image for the highly anticipated feature ‘Mayday,’ starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, premiering September 4th | Mac Daily NewsApple TV reveals first-look image for the highly anticipated feature ‘Mayday,’ starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, premiering September 4th
Tuesday at the 2026 Apple TV Press Day, Apple TV unveiled a first-look image for the highly anticipated feature “Mayday.” The film’s stars… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:57 pmSpotify upgrades lyrics support with three new features
Spotify has announced three big updates rolling out to its lyrics feature. The company says that lyric translations are now available worldwide. It’s also rolling out support for offline lyrics, plus an updated design for previewing lyrics right on the Now Playing view in the Spotify app. more…02:56 pmApple TV unveils hot 2026 lineup of series, movies and live sports
The ambitious Apple TV 2026 programming lineup features new films, new and returning shows and plenty of live sports coverage. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:36 pmQuestionable leak: MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max coming in March, not February
A leaker is backing up previous claims of how Apple is changing its processor designs to improve the speed of the M5 Max and M5 Pro, but also goes against all previous reports about when the next MacBook Pro will be released.The current MacBook ProDespite strong expectation that the next MacBook Pro models will be released shortly, one leaker suggests these M5 Max and M5 Pro updates won't come until March. Leaker Fixed Focus Digital has a mixed track record, but he or she has had some success, such as with the naming of the iPhone 16e.This time, their leak concerns the use of foundry TSMC's SolC manufacturing. It's an advanced packaging design that means Apple moving away from having both the CPU and GPU on the same chip. Rumor Score: 🙄 Unlikely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:32 pmAlexa+ launches for all US users, here’s how to upgrade (or skip it for now)
Alexa+ is Amazon’s new AI-infused version of its popular assistant. Following a slow initial rollout, Amazon has just made Alexa+ available to all users in the US. Here’s how to upgrade to Alexa+, or skip it for now. more…02:30 pmIf your AI prompts aren’t working, try this
Prompting Systems turns plain-text directions into focused prompts for popular AI models. Get the AI prompts generator for just $30 for life. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:15 pmApple just killed the myth of iPhone forced obsolescence
The conspiracy theory that Apple uses iOS as a tool of forced iPhone obsolescence is complete BS, and I can prove it. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:07 pmiPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of 35 smartphones tested
Battery life tests carried out by CNET reveal that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any of the smartphones tested, and that Apple heads the brand rankings across its models. Apple’s flagship model took first place, ahead of several models with substantially higher battery capacity, with the base model iPhone 17 in equal second place … more…02:00 pmApple Sports app adds PGA Tour and LPGA Tour golf to its growing lineup
Apple Sports — the free app for iPhone that gives fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more, delivered with speed and simplicity… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:00 pmScary iOS spyware can hide iPhone recording indicators
Macworld Researchers at Jamf Threat Labs have discovered new iOS spyware that can stop the iPhone camera and microphone indicator lights from working, opensing the possibility of the camera and microphone recording without the users being aware of it. The spyware, called Predator, is developed by Intellexa, a commercial spyware consortium that generally targets governments and large companies. According to Jamf’s report, Predator can selectively suppress the green (for the camera and microphone) and orange (mic only) indicators that appear at the top of an iPhone. Predator spyware has been around for years and works similarly to the Pegasus spyware that was used to hack phones belonging to journalists and activists. Predator can access a phone’s camera and microphone, record data, and send that data to the threat agent. It requires user interaction to infect a phone, which is usually done through a link sent to the target user via Messages. What’s new, as Jamf’s report details, is how Predator can stop the indicators from working. Back in iOS 14, Apple added indicator lights to the status bar as a security measure to let users know when an app or background task has accessed the camera or microphone. You’ll see a green dot when using the Camera app, for instance, or a persistent orange dot if you’re recording a voice memo in notes and swipe away to a different app. How to protect your iPhone from spyware Predator is used by agencies for governmental or corporate espionage for specific targets. It’s not really used on a mass scale in the wild, so you are unlikely to encounter it. That being said, this is an opportunity to remind users not to open links that are sent from unfamiliar senders. If a message looks suspicious, don’t open any message links. It’s also imprtant to install iOS updates as soon as it’s feasible. Updates usually include important security patches to protect you and your device. YOu can update your iPhone by tapping Settings > General > Software Update. For more advice about protecting your iPhonre read iPhone security tips: How to protect your phone from hackers.01:51 pmIf you use Apple Pay, watch out for this clever phishing scam
Macworld iPhone and Mac users may think they’re immune to online attacks because of the high level of security provided by Apple products. (That’s not quite true, but that’s a discussion for another day.) This ignores, however, the dangers of phishing, which relies on tricking users into giving away vital data rather than overcoming a device’s defences. This is important to understand because some phishing scams can be extremely competent and difficult to spot, and even experienced tech users may be fooled. Such as a new campaign, covered this week by AppleInsider, which uses Apple Pay and a fake “blocked transaction” to create a sense of urgency and bully victims into revealing their account and payment info. The scam begins with an email. The sender poses as an Apple employee, reinforcing this impression by using official-looking logos and formatting, and a display name that seems like it comes from an official Apple domain. (If you check this by hovering over the address, you’ll see it comes from another domain entirely.) They claim to be contacting you to warn of possible fraud… but the only fraud is the one they’re trying to perpetrate. Most Apple Pay communication is done through the Wallet app, so an email should automatically raise a red flag.Apple The email talks about a high-value Apple Pay purchase. Something went wrong with this, the sender claims: it originated from an unknown device at an unknown location, or was suspicious in some other way. So Apple blocked the payment and prevented that device from accessing the Apple Pay account in the future. But here’s the rub: if the recipient of the email doesn’t take action within a certain period of time to confirm it was a fraudulent attempt, Apple will assume it was actually fine and go ahead and process the transaction. You’re going to lose a large sum of money if you don’t act now. This, as with almost all phishing attempts, is designed to create a sense of urgency. If the clock is ticking, the victim is less likely to take time to consider whether the email is legitimate, to seek advice or help from others, or even to contact Apple via its publicly available details. Instead, many users will do as they are instructed: Call the phone number in the email. Needless to say, the number is not legitimate. It doesn’t lead to Apple support, but to someone who is part of the scam. And they will do everything they can to persuade you to reveal your Apple ID and other details (potentially including your banking information, which is where the “purchase” comes in handy) that enables them to gain access to your accounts. How to avoid getting caught out This particular phishing campaign is likely to catch some people, given the generally high standard of impersonation at its various stages. But there are plenty of clues that should reveal its malign intentions. The fake display name has already been mentioned. AppleInsider also notes “awkward phrasing such as Hello {Name},” impossible IP addresses, and a phone number that clearly has nothing to do with Apple, as a quick Google shows. Also, Apple will send a push notification through the Wallet app to inform you of any declined purchases. And they will never approve a potentially fraudulent transaction because you haven’t responded to a message. More generally, any message that relies so heavily on creating a sense of urgency should be regarded with suspicion. It’s important to respond to such messages carefully, rather than rushing. Double-check all the details in the email. Google the numbers given, and some phrases from the message to see if it’s a common scam. Speak to a friend or loved one if they are more technically adept than you. For more advice, read How to protect yourself from phishing emails. In this case, contacting Apple itself (using the contact details on its website, of course, rather than the phone number given in the message) should quickly reveal that there’s nothing to worry about. Except for the phishing scam you just avoided.01:44 pmApple Sports adds golf scores for PGA, WPGA tours
The latest update to Apple Sports adds golf scores and stats, so fans can now get essential updates from PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events.Golf is now in Apple SportsApple Sports is Apple's free iPhone app that provides at-a-glance scores, statistics, and other information to sports fans. In a Wednesday update to the app, it's expanded its coverage to include golf.In the update, users can get live score updates for all official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events, including the majors. That all starts with the PGA WM Phoenix Open, which starts on February 5. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums