Don’t expect the Mac Studio and Mac Pro to be updated at WWDC–or in 2024
Macworld With the release of the iPad Pro, Apple has ushered in a new chip generation with the M4. The introduction of that chip disrupted Apple’s usual chip release cycle, however–the M3 was first released only six months ago in the MacBook Pro and iMac. The last device to get an M3 was the MacBook Air in January. What about the rest of the Mac lineup? In the recent edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the Mac Studio and Mac Pro aren’t on Apple’s release schedule until mid-2025. In April, Gurman reported that Apple was testing a Mac Studio with “a still-unreleased M3-era chip” as well as a M4-series chip, which left its status for release in 2024 unclear. But now it appears that Apple has decided to skip the M3-based Mac Studio, which likely also means it’ll skip the M3-based Mac Pro, too. So, the current M2 Max/Ultra Mac Studio and M2 Ultra Mac Pro will remain in Apple’s lineup for another year. That also means that WWDC24 likely won’t have any new Mac announcements; Gurman reported in April that the M4 Mac rollout would start in the later part of 2024 with M4-based MacBook Pros and an iMac, which would be about a year after those Macs were released with the M3. The other Mac that still uses M2-series chips is the Mac mini. Gurman reports that the Mac mini won’t be updated until later 2024 or earlier 2025. That leaves four Macs—the low-end MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro—with M2 chips and three Macs—the newer MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac—with M3 chips. The decision to skip the M3-based Mac Studio and Mac Pro isn’t surprising. The M3 was the first chip made with the 3nm fabrication process, but the M4 uses a new enhanced 3nm process. As our own Jason Snell has pointed out, the two processes are incompatible, so Apple needed to make the switch to M4 to accommodate production. With no new Mac hardware expected at WWDC24, the Mac spotlight turns to macOS 15 and any other apps, such as Xcode. WWDC24 is expected to have an AI focus, with several AI-based features being revealed. Those features will probably be iPhone- and iOS 18-centric and brought over to the Mac where applicable. Read our Mac Studio superguide to learn more about Apple’s high-end desktop Mac. And get more information about WWDC24 and the upcoming macOS 15. Mac, Mac Pro

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Today in Apple history: AppleLink Personal Edition is the precursor to AOL
On May 20, 1988, Apple launched AppleLink Personal Edition, an online service that let customers connect using a Mac-style user interface. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Best Mac Cleaner software: Boost performance and disk space with a Mac cleaner app
Macworld If your Mac is slowing down, frequently freezing, regularly running out of RAM or just not behaving like it used to. Are you short of space on your Mac? Have you spotted the immense amount of room taken up by System Data and are now looking for a safe way to delete some of that data. What you need is a Mac cleaner app that will delete the clutter and digital debris from your system and free your RAM from memory hogs. Thankfully, there are a wealth of tools available to rectify that can clean up your Mac and get it working properly again. We’ve picked some of the best Mac cleaning software below so you can find one that suites you. The apps included in the list below all offer free trial versions. Some of these trials will merely show you how much space you can free up, but several are essentially free Mac Cleaners that will allow you to clean your Mac for free, albeit for a limited period. These include the trials for CleanMyMac, DaisyDisk, Parallels ToolBox and MacCleaner Pro featured below.  Updated: May 2024 with refreshed reviews of MacCleaner Pro and CleanMyMac X. PROMOTIONCleanMyMac X | Do more on a faster Mac Use CleanMyMac X to find hidden junk and free up unseen cache files. Locate large old folders, background apps, and heavy memory consumers. Tune your Mac for maximum speed, and keep it malware-free and secure. Make sure you use the Smart Scan weekly to help your computer stay productive all year round. Download Free Edition For more information about why a Mac cleaner app could be useful read: Why your Mac needs a cleaner app. We also discuss Tips for cleaning up your Mac. For more ways to squeeze the most out of your system read our How to speed up a slow Mac guide and How to delete Other on a Mac. We also look at How to delete System storage and How to clear cache on a Mac. Best Mac Cleaner 1. MacCleaner Pro Pros Impressive set of tools Good tutorial system Good level of configuration with the application’s modules Cons Occasionally awkward user interface Price When Reviewed: $74.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase); or $29.95/a year for 1 Mac (usually $14.95 a month) Best Prices Today: Free at Nektony (free 2 day trial)$74.95 at Nektony (one time purchase) MacCleaner Pro from Nektony (version 3.3 at the time of our latest review) is divided into a core app and several module apps, namely App Cleaner & Uninstaller, Disk Space Analyzer, Duplicate File Finder, Memory Cleaner, and Funter. The core app can perform an overall disk cleaning and help free up storage space by eliminating extraneous files.  The App Cleaner & Uninstaller module works well, and allows you to see the app you’re removing as well as its support files. This module has been improved compared to version 3, and now offers you easier access to startup programs and extension files, allowing you to enable, disable, or remove them. A Remaining Files feature allows you to chase down loose files, while an Open With feature lets you assign applications to open certain file types. With Duplicate File Finder it’s easy to specify file types to look for, such as audio and photo files, with an impressive level of precise control. Memory Cleaner module offers an easy interface to show which applications and processes are consuming the most RAM. Funter module finds hidden files within your operating system.  The Fast Cleanup option was able to clear up 11.4GB of drive space, most of these being application cache files, while the Deep Cleanup feature helped reclaim 65.4GB of drive space.  We did have some peculiar instances in which a reminder poped up advising us to clear disk space for a macOS Sonoma (which was already installed). On another occasion when we paused scanning after half an hour we saw a request for full access to the hard drive.  MacCleaner Pro is easy to install, runs well and has a good feature base. The software is priced decently at $29.95.95/£29.78 a year for a 1 Mac license (usually $14.95/£14.87 a month), or a one-time purchase fee of $74.95/£74.54 for a 1 Mac license. The free trial version will actually perform some of the tasks you need to do, rather than ask you to buy the full version. You can get MacCleaner Pro here. Read our full MacCleaner Pro review 2. MacPaw CleanMyMac X Pros Excellent cleaning tools for Mac storage Large toolset Easy to use Cons Updater feature missed some app updates Malware Removal is still producing mixed results Price When Reviewed: $89.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase); or $34.95/a year for 1 Mac (usually £39.95 a year) Best Prices Today: Free at Mac Paw (free 7 day trial)$34.95 at MacPaw (one time purchase) CleanMyMac X is a catch-all utility designed to identify and clean out gigabytes upon gigabytes of unused system garbage. It grants you easy access to several handy utilities to clear up disk space, protect user privacy, optimize performance, update applications, uninstall software, and help prevent malware and adware. The modules include Smart Scan, System Junk, Mail Attachments, Trash Bins, Malware Removal, Privacy, Optimization, Maintenance, Uninstaller, Updater, Extensions, Space Lens, Large & Old Files, and Shredder. Among these you will find tools for file cleanup, malware removal, privacy cleanup, easy access to system extensions, the app uninstaller, and the ability to down multi-GB files you forgot to delete and a quick means of deleting them. Smart Scan is the overarching umbrella feature, hunting down extraneous files that can be deleted to clear drive space, performing a quick malware scan, and executing a speed test to look into optimization functions, such as freeing up RAM or quickly clearing system caches. The Disk Lens and Uninstaller offered a clear view as to which folders were consuming the most drive space and a quick means of removing applications.  I was able to recover more than 30GB of drive space as the program found unused files and disk images galore.  Our main criticism is that the developer overextends themselves by trying to be everything to everyone. Unfortunately, some features aren’t as good as others – particularly the Malware removal module and the Updater function, neither of which work as well as we hoped, even with the antivirus being updated to take advantage of the Moonlock Engine.  CleanMyMac X is easy to download and install, and features a bright, friendly user interface and it’s exceptionally easy to see what’s gobbling up the most space on your Mac’s hard drive. The features are well-integrated. The software costs $34.95/£29.95 a year for a 1 Mac license (usually $34.95/£34.95), or a one-time purchase fee of $89.95/£76.95 for a 1 Mac license. There’s a free version available to download There is a free trial version available on the Mac App Store and from MacPaw’s website, but it restricts the app to only remove files up to a maximum of 500MB – and in the middle of deleting files it will demand you pay the license fee for the app. You can download that limited version and scan your Mac to see just now much space you can save before committing to buying the app. MacPaw is currently running a 30% discount for students – submit your university email address and receive a download code here.  You can get CleanMyMac X here. Read our full CleanMyMac X review 3. Daisy Disk Pros Quickly scans storage and finds large files Graphical representation of storage File name previews Can check cloud storage Cons Some user-interface quirks Price When Reviewed: $9.99 Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Software Ambience (One time purchase) No one ever said tracking down and eliminating all the stuff that was devouring space on your Mac would be pleasant, but DaisyDisk succeeds in making it pretty simple. DaisyDisk is focused on file management, presenting what’s taking up invaluable disk space, and allowing you to work with it. If all you need is to make some space on your Mac (perhaps because you are trying to update the macOS and it needs more space than you have) then you could go for a tool that simply finds and deletes unnecessary files for you. If this sounds like you then DaisyDisk ($9.99/£9.99 on the Mac App Store) is an excellent tool for seeing the contents of your drive in a colorful and interactive graph. The files are sorted into various groups such as Large files, Documents, Music, and Downloads, each of which are allocated their own colors and spokes that show how much space that area is taking up. It’s a good at-a-glance method for understanding where all your space has gone. Each section can be clicked to bring up another circular breakdown of its contents, with each sector representing a file. These can be previewed to see whether you want them or not, and if it’s a case of the latter then you simply drag them to the bottom of the screen where all your junk files are stored. The point of DaisyDisk is that it will delete the files you don’t need for you – rather than you trying to locate them. A job that could take hours takes minutes and there is no danger of deleting something important. If you visit the DaisyDisk site then you’ll be able to download a trial version that shows you how the app works. This is useful, but as the delete feature has been disabled you won’t be able to clear out any files. Instead, go for the full-blown version which costs $9.99/£9.99 – at least that’s not a yearly subscription. You can get Daisy Disk here. Read our full Daisy Disk review 4. Parallels Toolbox Pros Full suite of Mac tools Fully featured free trial Cons May be more than you require Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year Best Prices Today: Free at Parallels Toolbox Free 14-day Trial $24.99 at Parallels (annually) Parallels Toolbox is a bunch of tools that can be used to perform various actions on your Mac – such as Download Video, Record Audio, Hide Desktop Files, Resize Image, Clipboard History, Find Duplicates, Free Memory, and even the ability to set alarms. Among all these tools is one that can be used to clean your Mac. Mac cleaning tools provided in Parallels Toolbox that could also be useful when cleaning a Mac include Clean Drive, Uninstall Apps, Find Duplicates, and Free Memory. The Clean Drive tool scans your drive and then lets you choose what to delete. You can delete applications by dragging them to the trash, but this doesn’t always completely delete them. Often files and folders can be left scattered around your system that were related to that now gone app. Parallels’s Uninstall Apps tool will remove apps and their associated files from your Mac. Similarly, you can run Find Duplicates to dig out any identical files – even ones that have different file names. Parallel’s Toolbox costs $24.99/£20.99 a year, but the excellent news is that the free 14-day trial will actually delete your files, free memory and do all those other useful things without you buying the app! You can get an overview of Toolbox’s various features, and download the seven-day trial, from the company’s website. You can get Parallels Toolbox here. Read our full Parallels Toolbox review 5. App Cleaner & Uninstaller Pros Simple user interface Free (with Pro upgrade) Cons Not as full-featured as alternatives Price When Reviewed: $14.95 a year for 1 Mac (usually $7.95 a month) Best Prices Today: Free at Nektony (free 3 day trial)$14.95 at Nektony (annually) Also from Nektony, is the simple and easy to use App Cleaner & Installer. This lightweight app is actually bundled with MacCleaner Pro (above), but this version focuses on clearing out the broken links, files, and other gubbins that get left behind when apps are uninstalled. It also, as the name suggests, allows you to uninstall apps cleanly from the get-go, and set which ones launch at start up.   There is a free version that does most of these tasks, but if you pay $9.99/£9.99 for the Pro upgrade you’ll also be able to remove system extensions, executable parts of files, and uninstall apps, plus the ads that adorn the free version disappear. Easy to recommend due to both its price and quality. You can get App Cleaner & Uninstaller here. 6. MacBooster Pros Adds virus and malware scans as well as optimization No yearly subscription Cons Could be overkill for beginners Price When Reviewed: $39.95 a year for 1 Mac (usually $49.95) Best Prices Today: $39.95 at MacBooster (annually) MacBooster is a powerful app that not only offers the standard disk clean-up features like removing duplicates, scanning for large files, claiming back memory, and general performance enhancing duties, but also includes Virus and Malware scans to keep your Mac free from malicious software. As you can see, it has a similar interface to CleanMyMac X (above), and a similar collection of tools. The benefit here is that there’s one price to pay, rather than a yearly subscription. We also found that MacBooster identified a few more files for deletion than CleanMyMac did. While it’s certainly a comprehensive suite, the power under-the-hood could prove a little too much for beginners. We’d also recommend, as with any app in this roundup, that you make a complete backup of your system before you begin deleting files. A trial of MacBooster 8 is available, but if you want to delete anything you will have to buy the app – it costs $39.95/£37.57 for single Mac lifetime license. You can get MacBooster here. 7. Onyx Pros Powerful toolset Versions for older Mac systems readily available Cons UI needs some time to learn Price When Reviewed: Free Best Prices Today: Free at Titanium Software (Donationware) There’s a reason Onyx from Titanium Software has been among the tools of choice for Mac techies for such a long time. It offers a great set of tools and an incredible level of customization. It’s also freeware, so you don’t have to pay a penny, although the developer Titanium Software appreciates donations. Onyx also combines a unique, bare-bones approach to its user interface while offering an incredible level of customization as to what files are affected during a repair. Onyx can repair permissions, rebuild databases, reorganize file structures, check hard disk structures, and restore indexes. It can even repaire Unix-level functions that would otherwise only be accessed through Terminal. The main downside is that it’s not all that simple to use and it’s easy to make errors. Luckily there are handy FAQ links on the Titanium Software website for common issues. There are versions of Onyx for each version of the macOS. You can get Onyx here. Read our full Onyx review 8. CCleaner Pros Impressive customization tools Excellent control over storage Cons User interface is a little clunky Price When Reviewed: $29.95 a year Best Prices Today: $29.95 at Piriform Software (annually) CCleaner from Piriform (acquired by Avast, which has subsequently merged with Norton) achieves what it sets out to do: help clean up gigabytes of cache files, internet history files, and locate and purge large files on your Mac, all with an impressive level of control. It’s easy to both analyze a hard drive to determine how much space certain files might be taking up. Options include Uninstall, Startup, Erase Free Space, Large File Finder, and Duplicate File Finder. You can customize which cookies you want to save or purge and chose between Normal file deletion,” which is faster or “Secure file deletion,” which takes longer. Our only nitpick is that the user interface makes it feel very much like a Windows port. In fact, CCleaner has had a similar look and feel for the better part of 20 years. It’s freeware, but there’s an option to pay for a professional version for $29.95/£25.95 a year. In 2017 CCleaner was used to distribute malware. Hackers had inserted malicious code in the legitimate program. This has been rectified. You can get CCleaner here. Read our full CCleaner review 9. MacKeeper Pros Convenience of having multiple tools in one product Free version lets you access most of the features Cons Paid subscription is expensive Burdened with a bad reputation Price When Reviewed: $62.01 a year for 1 Mac (usually $95.40 a year) Best Prices Today: $62.01 at Clario (annually) We have to start by addressing the fact that MacKeeper doesn’t have the best reputation, although in recent years the company’s new owner – Clario – has tried very hard to rectify that. MacKeeper’s poor reputation wasn’t helped by the fact that it was difficult to uninstall an used scareware tactics to encourage people to upgrade to a paid version. Those issues should now be in the past. The software has received a good grade from AV-Test and has notarization from Apple, among other things, that should give users confidence. In terms of what it can do, MacKeeper offers 11 tools including an antivirus scanner, adware remover, a cleanup feature, a duplicate file finder, and a smart uninstaller. There’s also a memory cleaner, a software update tracker, and a startup item locator. You’ll also find a ID theft guard, a VPN, and an online ad blocker. There’s a free version, that gives you access to most of the tools, as well as a $5 a month for a year subscription. A subscription includes 24-7 tech support through which you can email, chat with, or talk to support staff. You can probably find individual products—and in some cases, more robust products—for each of the features in MacKeeper. But having all these tools under one roof makes for ease and convenience.  You can get MacKeeper here. Read our full MacKeeper review You may also like to consider: Cleanup Premium for Mac. $29.88/£24.99 a year.Disk Doctor, $2.99/£2.99 a year.Gemini 2, $19.95/£15.95 a year.Cleaner One Pro,$19.99 a year.Tuneup for Mac, $65.99/£54.99 a year. Cleaning and Data Recovery Software, Personal Software

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MacWhisper 8 debuts with new video player, WhisperKit models, ChatGPT 4o support
MacWhisper is a super useful utility for quickly transcribing spoken audio on the Mac. Version 8 is launching today with new features around video, speed, AI, and more. more…

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Here’s the key to expanding MacBook connectivity [Setups]
Any Mac setup, but especially a MacBook rig, can benefit from expanding connectivity through a USB-C hub or Thunderbolt dock. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Immerse yourself in code with BenQ’s specialized new monitors
BenQ RD monitors for programmers -- the world's first, according to the company -- go easy on the eyes with specialized features. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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There’s one way to save Apple from irrelevance: New leadership
Apple is facing a reckoning of its own making.The Cupertino, California company has fumbled so many times in the last year… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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iPhone should be rebranded, says the man behind the i prefix
The man responsible for the i prefix in Apple products says that the convention is now meaningless, and that the iPhone should be rebranded. That would see a change of name for the iPhone, iPad, and iMac – a transition which Apple accidentally began back in 2007 … more…

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LG's 34-inch UltraGear monitor plunges to $549 at Amazon today
Amazon's record-breaking 58% price drop on the LG 34GP950G-B 34-inch UltraGear display delivers the lowest price ever.Save 58% on this LG 34-inch UltraGear monitor.Mac users looking for an external display that offers ample screen real estate without breaking the bank should check out today's deal from Amazon on the LG 34GP950G-B. Now on sale for $549.99 while supplies last, this 34-inch computer monitor features a curved IPS display with support for 3440 x 1440 resolution.Buy for $549.99 Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Apple Pencil Pro casts a fake shadow based on which tool you're using
A new video of the Apple Pencil Pro has surfaced, highlighting a nifty little feature that showcases Apple's commitment to detail.The Apple Pencil Pro casts contextual shadows based on which tool you have selectedApple released the new Apple Pencil Pro, an upgraded version of its popular iPad stylus, alongside its new iPads released in early May. The new Apple Pencil has received a few notable features, such as Squeeze and Barrel Roll, making it a serious contender for digital artists.But those weren't the only features that popped up, either. The Apple Pencil Pro now casts contextual digital shadows, too. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Aqara M3 hub, Pitaka smart car charger, & hands on with Apple Pencil Pro on HomeKit Insider
On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we hit the news for the week before diving into two hands on with the Apple Pencil Pro and Pitaka MagEZ Qi2 car charger.HomeKit Insider PodcastThe long-awaited Aqara Hub M3 is now available to users in the US which brings a bunch of new functionality. It can act as a Matter hub with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Zigbee, and Thread connectivity.An integrated speaker acts as a siren and a 360-degree IR blaster controls legacy devices. The device is powered over USB-C and can connect to a maximum of 127 devices. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple heavily discounting iPhones in China – up to $318 off
With Chinese brand Huawei having risen from the ashes, a new report describes Apple heavily discounting iPhones in the country, offering up to $318 off the iPhone 15 Pro Max as it seeks to compete. The latest round of discounts are much higher than those offered back in February, and really throws into contrast the US offer of slightly better trade-in values on older phones … more…

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Apple wants all of TSMC's 2nm chips, so they sent Jeff Williams in secret
Apple is preparing to start the production of chips using a 2-nanometer process, and sent COO Jeff Williams to Taiwan with a view to securing the first batch.Processor wafers [TSMC]Apple has been proactive in pushing its chips to use the latest and smallest scale manufacturing processes, with its latest chips using a 3-nanometer foundry process. Now, it is poised to shift to 2nm.Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams went on a secret visit to Taiwan, sources of UDN claim. The trip involved a visit to chip partner TSMC, with TSMC president Wei Zhejia in attendance to receive the COO. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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If you're buying a new iPad Pro, your old magnetic stand won't work
Don't even try using an old iPad Pro magnetic stand with the new models because they won't work, the iPad will slip, and so you could even damage your new device.An older iPad Pro firmly gripped by magnets in a standIt isn't as if the risk of damage to your new iPad Pro is great, but even the new, stronger design is vulnerable at the corners. So if you did try mounting the new iPad Pro on a stand built for the old one, it will fall and it will likely strike the desk or ground on one of those edges.The reason you can't use that expensive old stand is down to the redesign of the iPad Pro and ultimately because of how much thinner it is than its predecessor. But this is not like when Apple released the last version of the iPad Pro in 2021. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Opening a third-party iPhone app store in Europe isn’t easy
In January, Apple announced it would soon allow iPhone and iPad users in Europe to download apps from third-party app stores … The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Secret meeting between Apple and TSMC reported, possibly to reserve all 2nm capacity
A new report says that there was a “secret meeting” between Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams and the company’s exclusive chipmaker TSMC. It’s being speculated that the meeting may have been to agree a deal for Apple to reserve all of TSMC’s 2nm capacity, in the same way it reportedly did with 3nm tech … more…

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The Apple accessory every MacBook needs is just $18 right now
Macworld Whether you have a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro, there’s one port you definitely don’t have: Gigabit Ethernet. But today you can add one for cheap: Amazon’s Woot is selling an official Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for just $18, a savings of $11 and the best price we’ve ever seen. Apple’s Ethernet adapter is simple: It has a USB-C cable on one end and an ethernet port on the other to provide and provides an RJ-45 port that supports 10/100/1000BASE-T networks. It measures just six inches and can easily fit in any bag for travel. To use it, just plug it into an available USB-C port on your MacBook, plug an ethernet cable into it, and select Ethernet in the Network settings. The sale is good until Wednesday or until stock sells out. And one more bonus—if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll get free shipping. Mac

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Apple set to release a significantly thinner ‘iPhone Ultra’ in 2025
Apple is developing a significantly thinner version of the iPhone - perhaps called "iPhone Ultra" - a flagship model that would… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Download videos from YouTube, TikTok and more with this easy-to-use app
Never lose access to a favorite video with Surfast, a YouTube video downloader that works with 1,000 streaming platforms (including TikTok). (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple teaming with OpenAI on chatbot to be announced at WWDC
Apple is reportedly teaming up with OpenAI to add the startup’s chatbot technology to its products. The companies are preparing… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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