Stock market calmed by Fed’s interest rate signals ahead of Apple earnings
Global stock markets showed cam on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve squelched talk of more interest rate hikes as Apple earnings… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple Watch AFib feature gets new FDA seal of approval
The Apple Watch AFib feature – which detects abnormal heartbeat patterns indicative of atrial fibrillation – has received a new tick of approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Doctors have already credited the health feature with saving lives. While the FDA had previously granted clearance for AFib detection, that was a limited endorsement … more…

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Rabbit R1 isn't an iPhone killer, because its AI can run on Apple hardware
The Rabbit R1 handheld AI device is a simple Android device, and a developer made the AI run on an iPhone.Rabbit R1 running on iPhone as a web app [X/@WillHobick]The Rabbit R1 offers the ability to answer queries and perform tasks using AI, instead of using an iPhone directly. However, the work of one enterprising developer has resulted in a clone of the "iPhone-killer" which can run on an iPhone.In X tweets on Monday, Will Hobick of Flutterflow posted that he would be posting a "cloneable template" of the Rabbit R1 app later in the week. In a follow-up post on Tuesday, he demonstrates a version of the app running on an iPhone. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple is deepening ties with China even as it boosts suppliers globally
Despite its well-publicized moves to cut its dependence on China as its main supplier, Apple has also been increasing the number of firms it works with for production with in the region.Tim Cook visits Luxshare factory in 2017. Source: AppleBy January 2024, Apple's supply chain had spent $16 billion in moving away from China, and as of April 2024, 14% of all iPhones are being manufactured in India. But according to an analysis by Nikkei Asia of Apple's public reporting, the company is continuing to deepen its relationships with China."Chinese suppliers have formed the largest camp of Apple suppliers since 2020, and their number increased to 52 last year from 48 in 2022," write Cheng Ting-Fang and Lauly Li. "The number of manufacturing or development facilities in China — including those owned by domestic and foreign companies — grew by 10 to 286." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Unfollow Everything lawsuit could change the way we use social media apps
A court is being asked to decide whether or not Meta has a legal obligation to allow the use of Unfollow Everything – a browser tool which effectively empties your Facebook feed. The idea behind the tool is that instead of being sucked into an effectively endless feed of posts from every friend, group, and page you have ever followed, you get to proactively choose the posts you read … more…

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Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank review: Flat-out impressive
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsFast charging timesFlat designIncludes transport bag and cableConsDifficult to read displayNo display in wattsOur VerdictThe flat design of the Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank is practical for stowing in a bag or backpack. With its four connectors, it offers enough connection options, and the charging times are very good. Price When Reviewed$129.99 Best Prices Today: Baseus Laptop Powerbank PD 100W 20000mAh Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal Baseus $100 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket At first glance, the Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank 100W 20000mAh is the ideal laptop power bank. It’s flat, not too heavy, has enough capacity for one charge, and it’s not too slow when charging. It does have impressive features: a capacity of 20,000 mAh; two USB-C power delivery ports with a maximum output power of 100 watts and an input power of 65 watts; and two USB-A ports with a maximum of 30 watts. It measures 5.27 by 5.27 by 0.7 inches (13.4 by 13.4 by 1.8 centimeters) and is flat with rounded corners, perfect for stowing in a bag. It also comes with a protective storage bag and a USB-C charging cable. The 20,000 mAh capacity is enough to charge a 13-inch MacBook Air M1 from zero to 100 percent once, with about 5 percent remaining on the Blade HD. During a 30-minute charging session, the Blade HD added 37 percent to an M1 MacBook Air’s battery, 57 percent to the iPhone 15, and 30 percent to the iPad Pro. It’s one of the fastest power banks we’ve tested. The Blade also recharges very quickly. it reaches 90 percent after just 90 minutes and is fully charged after just under two hours. The display on the top of the Blade HD is very practical. It provides information about the capacity percentage, voltage, and current, as well as the approximate time for the charging process. The major criticism is the poor readability of the display. It is far too dark and can only be read when there is no light on it. Also, the practical benefit of the display would be even greater if the power was displayed in watts and not in a combination of volts and amps. The Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank 100W 20000mAh has an informative display that can be difficult to read. The Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank 100W 20000mAh has an informative display that can be difficult to read.Thomas Bergbold The Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank 100W 20000mAh has an informative display that can be difficult to read.Thomas Bergbold Thomas Bergbold Should you buy the Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank? With its flat form factor, the Baseus Blade HD Laptop Power Bank 100W 20000mAh is the ideal companion in a notebook bag or backpack. It’s easy to slip into a pocket, the charging performance is plenty fast, and it charges in a hurry, all of which make it a great option for MacBook road warriors.. For more power banks and portable battery packs, check out our roundup of our favorite models. Thomas Bergbold Thomas Bergbold Thomas Bergbold This article originally appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola. Laptop Accessories, Mac

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Use these tips to make your passwords even stronger
Macworld The first Thursday of May is World Password Day, a day to remind ourselves of the importance of making our digital lives more secure. For better or worse, just about everything we do is connected, online, and digital–our phones are car and house keys, every penny we have is behind a few banking passwords, and our entire jobs and reputations can be destroyed with access to just a couple social media accounts. It’s more important than ever to ensure our accounts and digital devices are as secure as possible. But of course, security has to be convenient as well–you’re not going to type in a 45-character alphanumeric password every time you want to unlock your iPhone! With that in mind, here are some straightforward tips for making sure your digital life is more secure. Some can be done in minutes, others may take some time to set up but will be fast and convenient after you do, but all of them will help make sure you don’t end up with a disaster on your hands. What makes a bad password Every security expert will tell you that the biggest problem isn’t that hackers are super skilled, it’s that they don’t have to work very hard most of the time because people use bad passwords and the same passwords for multiple things. Left to their own devices, people will choose passwords that are simple for them to remember. They’ll use their spouse’s name, their dog’s name, their favorite sports team or a recent vacation spot. Just look at the most common passwords for 2022: password 123456 123456789 guest qwerty It takes no skill or ingenuity to guess one of those in seconds. You should also not use your children’s birthdays, anniversaries, a pet’s name, or any other set of numbers or words that is associated with your real life. How to create a strong password Instead, experts say to use long passwords made of multiple words together–a pass phrase, if you will. Something like super-sonic-headphones or walter-white-is-heisenberg is a lot harder for a computer to crack than vNe3R#1! because brute-force password cracking gets much harder as the password gets longer, not stranger. By using these following tips, people will be able to create easy to remember passwords that follow these typical requirements: at least eight characters long and with at least 3 of the following character types: upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Substitute numbers for letters and vice versa. (o instead of 0, 4 instead of A, 1 instead of L, E instead of 3) Substitute words for numbers (one, two , three…) Combine both the of above (0ne, thr33, f1ve) Use capitalization in random places (bLue, happY) Use special characters ( !@#$%^&*(){}[] ) to punctuate and separate words Create passwords out of words, numbers or phrases you’ll remember Misspell words Using these tips, you can create memorable passwords that will be nearly impossible to guess. Here are some examples of converting memorable information into a complex password We’ll start with some easy ones: Friday becomes frYday! Robert becomes #robERt# 867-5309 becomes 8siX753o9 19 Peach Place becomes: 0ne9peacHpl! I love Jill becomes: eYelov3Jill My dog Fritz becomes MeyedogfrltZ That should help you create a secure password, but you’ll need to create more than one, because using the password, or recycling old passwords and using passwords on rotation is bad. Read on to find out how to solve this password problem. Managing multiple passwords You should also use a different password for every single account you have, without exception. Huge lists of stolen passwords are frequently sold and traded among hackers, where they are then checked against millions of sites and services. If one of your accounts is compromised and you change the password, you can bet that same password will be tried on many other sites and services for years to come. Using long, complex passwords that are different for every account you have is a huge pain–you’ll never remember them all. That’s where password managers come in! They help you store and fill in passwords across all your devices and can fill in things like address and payment forms too. A good password manager makes your life easier and more secure and is well worth the time to set up. You can use iCloud Keychain which is built into your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help you manage passwords, but for even more flexibility try one of the Password Managers we’ve reviewed in our round-up of the Best Password Managers for Mac and iPhone. Take advantage of biometrics While your device is only ever as secure as your password–because biometrics can be overridden by the password–using biometrics means you won’t always need to type out a long and complicated password. Biometric password features like Face ID and Touch ID are not foolproof, but they’re much harder to crack than a string of six numbers, and they’re much more difficult to sell and trade around than big lists of passwords. You should change your iPhone or iPad passcode to a real password, and make it a good one, then use Face ID or Touch ID to avoid having to type it in all the time. Do this wherever possible: Use big complex unique passwords for your main password manager, for example, and let Face ID or Touch ID do the hard work of unlocking it for you. Apple, Microsoft, and Google have joined together to allow the use of biometric logins without passwords across their sites and services. This initiative, called Passkey, has been supported in Apple devices since macOS 13 and iOS/iPadOS 16 and is starting to be used across other sites and services. You can now log in to your Google account with Passkey, for example. Secure every account with 2FA where possible Two-factor Authentication (2FA), also called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), is when you have to supply a password and something else–a short one-time use code sent to you via text message or generated by a special app, or a fingerprint or face scan, for example. These are really great ways to secure your account. Any time your password is correctly entered on a new device (such as when a hacker tries to use it), you must enter a code sent to you via text or generated with an app. The code can only be used once and is valid for a very short time. So even if a hacker steals or guesses your password, they’re not likely to be able to get into your account. Using SMS (texts) for this is commonplace and handy because it doesn’t require an app, but SIM-jacking and other techniques can sometimes allow hackers to target individuals and access their texts, making this less secure than using a 2FA app like Auth, Google Authenticator, or Duo Mobile. Apple has its own 2FA system for your Apple ID, which you should definitely have enabled since many Apple services require it. Here’s how to set up 2FA with your Apple ID. You’ll want to enable 2FA on every other account you have, especially bank accounts and accounts where you can make purchases (like game services). Check out our guide to getting started with 2FA for more. And if you want the utmost security, you can lock down your Apple ID with a security key if you’re running iOS 16.3 or macOS Venture 13.2 or later. Instead of a code, you’ll have a physical key (two actually) that stores your authentication and is impossible to steal or spoof remotely. Use Passkeys Since the introduction of iOS 17 and macOS 14 Sonoma, your Apple ID can support passkey authentication. This means that anywhere you need to sign in with your Apple ID, including websites and icloud.com, you’ll have a new option alongside the usual standard password login method. If you press a “Continue with Apple” button you will be able to scan a QR code with your iPhone’s camera and this will allow you to log in. Read more about using passkey in: How to use Passkeys on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Includes additional reporting by Michael Scalisi. iOS, iPhone, Mac, MacOS, Password Managers, Security Software and Services

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Coldplay, Drake, Ariana Grande and other UMG artists return to TikTok
Songs from UMG artists are now again available to TikTok creators, after a dispute over royalty payments and AI policies was resolved. This has seen the return of a lengthy list of artists, including Bad Bunny, Sting, The Weeknd, Alicia Keys, Drake, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Adele, U2, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, and Post Malone … more…

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5 reasons why the M4 iPad Pro rumors actually make sense
Macworld Apple is about to unveil new iPads on May 7, and the most surprising rumored part of it is not that there will be a fourth Apple Pencil or OLED displays. Rather, it’s that the iPad Pro might skip the M3 altogether and jump from the M2 to the M4. That’s right, the M4, an unreleased, unannounced processor may show up in the iPad Pro before the Mac. That’s highly unusual and seems to make no sense…but maybe it does? Apple could have some good reasons to debut the M4 in the iPad Pro this year, especially when we consider what the M4 is supposed to be, Apple’s AI push at WWDC next month, and the need to boost seriously sagging iPad sales. What we expect from the M4 Before we get into some reasons why an M4 iPad Pro makes sense at this particular time, let’s review what we expect it to be. The M4 is supposed to be the cousin to Apple’s A18 processor that will debut in the iPhone 16 Pro this year. In our preview of that chip, we wrote that we expect it to be made on a refined 3nm process and carry more or less the usual expected CPU and GPU improvements, but a big boost to AI processing power. Apple’s Neural Engine, and perhaps the GPU, are probably going to get huge enhancements as the company seeks to differentiate its products with on-device AI processing in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15. The M3 was just announced last Halloween, and six months seems like an awful fast jump to the next M-series processor. But recall that while the M3 came more than a year after M2, which was released in June—it reportedly arrived a few months late as a result of the move to TSMC’s then-new 3nm process. Based on that revised timeline, the M4 might be right on time. So if the design is done and the chips are ready to roll, there are some good reasons why Apple might want to seemingly push it out the door in the iPad Pro first. Recall also that this spring release of iPads is coming pretty late (we first expected them in March). Maybe waiting for M4 was part of the reason why? Why an M4 iPad Pro makes sense right now I can think of a number of reasons why Apple would want to ship an iPad Pro this month. None of them are all that compelling on their own, but taken together, I think it makes a good case for what seems like a bizarre move. 1. iPad Pro volumes are low If the M4 is ready to ship already, it’s almost certainly not ready to be manufactured in really big numbers. Apple doesn’t break down individual models, but I’d be willing to bet that the iPad Pro is a pretty small fraction of overall iPad sales. On the Mac side, however, the M4 would go in the most popular models: the entry-level Mac mini, iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. There simply may not be enough M4 chips produced yet to put in the MacBook, but plenty for the comparatively smaller number of iPad Pros Apple would be expected to sell. It’s just a good way to get the chip out there in limited quantities while production scales up. 2. iPad sales need a big boost It’s no secret that iPad sales have been bad lately. It’s been over a year and a half since any new model was released, and even iPad lovers find their three-year-old iPads perfectly suitable for everything they use them for. One way to boost iPad sales—if not in volume than in revenue—is to push more people to the most expensive models. Making iPad Pro the first Apple device with the M4, and marketing it as ready for some really revolutionary AI coming later this year, is definitely one way to do that. Apple would certainly focus on the AI angle when it announces the iPad Pro on May 7 if it has an M4 in it, but the real sales pitch would come a month later at WWDC—and the iPad Pro would be the only iPad ready for it on day one. 3. Apple needs an AI-ready device before WWDC Imagine you’re Apple, and you’re going to announce iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 with a bunch of cool new AI features in about a month. Some of those features are going to require a new processor with a new Neural Engine. Only that’s not even going to be announced until the iPhone is unveiled three months later. Having an M4 iPad on the market, presumably with the new Neural Engine or other AI enhancements, gives Apple the opportunity to show off the operating systems in full. They can talk about the enhanced AI features as something available only on the new iPad Pro, with a vague promise that other iPhones and Macs and stuff will get those capabilities “soon.” It lets a secretive company like Apple put its best AI foot forward at a critical juncture, instead of keeping the best stuff under wraps until the iPhone announcement this fall. Again, this assumes that some of the iOS and iPadOS 18 features will require the enhanced AI performance of the M4 and A17. 4. Devs will need AI hardware before the fall If this WWDC is going to be all about AI and cool new AI models that run locally on your Apple hardware instead of in the cloud, you can bet that Apple will build frameworks for developers to tap into that functionality, too. And that means Apple will want developers to have hardware in hand to start building apps, so that when iOS and iPadOS 18 roll out in the fall, there’s a suite of AI-enhanced apps ready to take advantage of it. A Mac seems like the obvious candidate for this development, but if M4 isn’t yet ready for Mac-like volumes, or if some of the frameworks are only for iOS and iPadOS, then an iPad Pro is the next best thing (other than surprise launching the next iPhone months early, which of course is not going to happen). An M4-powered iPad Pro may be the de facto “AI dev kit” from WWDC in June until the release of new operating systems and developer tools in September/October. 5. An M3 iPad Pro would be poorly timed Finally, absent all the reasons for the M4 to be in the iPad Pro, perhaps the best reason is that the M3 does not belong in it. If Apple shipped an iPad Pro with M3, it wouldn’t be updated again until at least next summer, and a more likely timeframe would be next fall (iPad Pro releases are usually around a year and a half apart). If the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS have impressive new AI features this fall, some of which require the new chips to run, can you imagine Apple’s premium iPads being left out of the loop for 6-12 months? If Apple is going to make all of its major products available with new more powerful AI hardware and software by the end of the year, it has three options: Wait to release the iPad Pro until the fall, a full two years since its last update. Release a new iPad Prow with M3 now and then refresh it with M4 in the fall, angering all the customers who just bought the M3 version. Release the M4 version early, and use it to showcase the advanced AI features we can expect with this fall’s OS updates. Of the three, I think the last one is the best option, provided the M4 is actually ready to ship the volumes the iPad Pro needs. Of course, Apple is an incredibly secretive company and all our assumptions are based on leaks and rumors that could very well be wrong. We won’t have long to wait, as the new iPads are expected on May 7 and WWDC is just a month later. Stay up to date with the latest developments for the iPad Pro in our rumor roundup. iPad

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Apple Watch is FDA's first-ever approved digital AFib history device
The FDA has approved the Apple Watch's atrial fibrillation history feature under its stringent Medical Device Development Tools program that specifies what devices health professionals can rely on.Apple Watch health featuresApple Watch has had an atrial fibrillation feature since 2022, and the FDA approved its use just hours before Apple announced it. Since then, it has been credited with saving lives, including those of people who previously had no reason to suspect they had severe heart problems.Now on top of its allowing the sale of the feature, the Food and Drug Administration has also passed the Apple Watch's AFib history feature for its Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) program. As first spotted by MyHealthyApple, this makes the Apple Watch the first digital health technology to qualify under MDDT for a non-invasive way of estimating atrial fibrillation. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple announces 2024 Swift Student Challenge winners, profiles three Distinguished Winners and their apps
The entries have been tallied, there were some incredible apps submitted, and Apple has profiled three of its “Distinguished Winners” of its 2024 Swift Student Challenge, their apps covering care, extreme sports, and breathing exercises. The company launched its 2024 Swift Student Challenge in February and selected 350 winners from their entries in March. 50 […] Source

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Rumor: Third-generation Apple Watch Ultra may see “almost no” hardware upgrades compared to the current model
If you were hoping for a new generation of the Apple Watch Ultra with a significant number of amazing new features you may be let down. Per Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple seems likely to release a next-gen Apple Watch Ultra this year, but the new model will have “almost no” hardware upgrades […] Source

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Boost your Mac’s abilities and potential with 16 macOS-friendly apps, only $40
Macworld While Apple consistently offers some of the best tech innovations, Mac users are due for some long-awaited tools to maximize their macOS device’s abilities. Fortunately, you can add a helpful arsenal of tools to your macOS device with the $40 Big Mac Utility Bundle, which serves up a collection of 16 productivity apps that can streamline virtually everything you do on your Mac. With a one-time payment for this bundle’s plethora of Mac-friendly apps, you’ll get lifelong access to 16 apps, which include minor updates as they’re released. Here’s what you’ll receive: Colori ToAnything Tidier FileUnhider Web2Mac AppKiller QRWizard SpeakMe Markdown+, And much more! Let’s dive into some of the apps. With AppKiller, you can easily clear out your running apps with a single click of a button. Need to connect to WiFi when you’re traveling or commuting? WiFi Radar Pro helps by scanning, monitoring, and resolving issues with connecting networks. If you work in-person at the office, FileUnhider can be helpful, as users can instantly hide and unhide their displayed files if they’re showing their screen to a colleague. Constantly copying and pasting? Use AllClips to manage your Mac’s clipboard and recover lost clippings. Boost your Mac’s potential and your efficiency by investing in The Big Mac Utility Bundle, now just $39.99.   The Big Mac Utility Bundle Only $39.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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MacCleaner Pro review: Clear the junk from your Mac
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsImpressive array of tools builds on previous versions of Mac Cleaner Pro.Makes customization and getting under the hood of the macOS simple.Decently priced for what you get.ConsOccasionally awkward user interface (occasionally asked permission to access macOS operating system after a function had begun).Drive space warning issued needlessly.Our VerdictHere are easy options for reclaiming drive space, clearing out system detritus, and getting under the hood of the macOS and customizing it. That and a good level of support make it worth your consideration. Price When Reviewed$74.95 (one-time purchase), $29.95 (one year subscription) Best Prices Today: MacCleaner Pro Retailer Price Nektony (free trial) Free View Deal Nektony $74.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket There’s no shortage of cleaning and optimization utilities for the Mac these days and Ukranian developer Nektony presents a handy, powerful selection of such tools in MacCleaner Pro. There are times when a good utility sticks to its roots, yet gets that much better in the subsequent version. There are also times when the developers leave an irritating reminder in the user interface that shouldn’t be there, making you wonder exactly what they were thinking as this version passed through developer Nektony’s QA department and went out across the internet and into the marketplace. This is a mix of the two (albeit the better elements win out in the long run). MacCleaner Pro (version 3.3 at the time of this 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, which can perform an overall disk cleaning and help free up storage space by eliminating extraneous files, diverts to the modules as needed, par for the course for this genre of utility. MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s main screen, complete with overview scan options. MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s main screen, complete with overview scan options.Foundry MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s main screen, complete with overview scan options.Foundry Foundry As expected, MacCleaner Pro is easy to install, and you just grant it access to areas of your operating system such as your Desktop, Documents, Photos, etc. 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. The Disk Analyzer module is interesting and features a good layout, but also scanned my M2 MacBook Pro’s SSD for more than 30 minutes before I paused it, then asked me to grant it full access to my hard drive as well as my Documents folder and iCloud Drive folder, which seemed to be a backward approach to the entire process. MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s Disk Analyzer module, complete with graphic layout of your hard drive and folder architecture. MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s Disk Analyzer module, complete with graphic layout of your hard drive and folder architecture.Foundry MacCleaner Pro 3.3’s Disk Analyzer module, complete with graphic layout of your hard drive and folder architecture.Foundry Foundry Once again, the Duplicate File Finder is a good module and it’s easy to specify file types to look for, such as audio and photo files. There’s also an impressive level of precise control via the Select Duplicates in Folders feature, and it’s satisfying to hunt down duplicates and get some of your drive space back. Similar to its previous version, the Memory Cleaner module offers an easy interface to show which applications and processes are consuming the most RAM. The module, which resides in the macOS Menu Bar, comes in handy and offers an Automatically Free Up option with which to optimize RAM usage to the best of its ability. Still, this is one of the peculiar instances in which a reminder pops up advising the user to clear disk space for a macOS Sonoma install, even though I was already running macOS Sonoma. Perhaps the understated jewel of MacCleaner Pro is the Funter module, which has been improved on since the previous version. Funter works as an outstanding tool for finding hidden files within your operating system. The search feature has been updated, and while it could take a considerable amount of time to index everything, this is still a powerful search tool for rooting through the inner workings of the macOS. Where the main MacCleaner Pro module was concerned, the Fast Cleanup option was able to clear up 11.45 gigabytes of drive space, most of these being application cache files, while the Deep Cleanup feature helped reclaim 65.4 gigabytes of drive space. The Speed Up module offers a good level of control over startup applications, heavy applications, RAM optimizations, and other tasks, making it easy to decide what to load within the macOS. There’s a lot that’s going right with MacCleaner Pro, and the software runs well, has a good feature base, builds well on previous elements and modules, offers good in-app guides and help, and doesn’t overreach by also offering to provide security services, such as antiviral and VPN protection, even though those are also products Nektony sells. The software is priced decently at $21.95/month (usually $29.80) for a 2 Mac license, $44.95/year (usually $59.90) with a 2 Mac license, or a one-time purchase fee of $119.95 (usually $150.90) for a 2 Mac license as of this writing, which feels reasonable. Download it here. Foundry Foundry Foundry As mentioned before, there are a few user interface elements that might make you shake your head, but they’re not deal breakers. A few of the modules displayed the macOS Sonoma drive space warning I mentioned earlier, even though I was already running macOS Sonoma. This seems a bit redundant. There were also times when the modules asked for permission to access certain areas of the operating system after a cycle has begun, as opposed to asking for full permission for everything upfront. This can feel a bit awkward, and while most of these decisions are one-time choices that stay after the first time, it feels like something that could be streamlined in a future update. Should I buy MacCleaner Pro? There’s a good utility to be found in MacCleaner Pro 3.3. Nektony has done a good job building out previous versions of the software, putting forth some easy options for both reclaiming drive space, clearing out system detritus, and getting under the hood of the macOS and customizing it without having to dive into the Terminal application and the command line. That and a good level of support and updates make it worth your consideration, despite a few user interface quirks. If you have doubts, the software is available to download and try out with no hassle, which is worth its weight in gold. Cleaning and Data Recovery Software, MacOS

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Apple Watch Ultra 3 might not pack any hardware upgrades
This year's Apple Watch Ultra 3 might have "almost no" hardware upgrades, making it a minor update over the current-gen model. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Upgrade your cloud storage to 1TB with Koofr, now only $130 for life
Macworld Everybody needs cloud storage these days, but nobody likes paying monthly subscription fees. You like it even less when you run out of storage and suddenly have to pay even more per month. But what if you could pay once for enough storage to last a lifetime? Now, you can since lifetime access to Koofr Cloud Storage’s 1TB plan is only $129.97 using coupon code: KOOFR through May 5 at 11:59 PM Pacific. (reg. $810) through May 5. Koofr is an intuitive cloud storage platform that makes it easy to connect all of your existing cloud storage and bring your files together into a single hub. Users can link Dropbox, Google Drive, and more to create a centralized solution. With 1TB of cloud storage, you’ll have plenty of room for all your files, photos, and other media. For organization, Koofr offers a Duplicate Finder to remove copies and other file management tools. Another bonus of Koofr is that the platform never tracks users. All files are encrypted at rest and in transfer, ensuring your complete security and privacy. Pay once and grab a lifetime subscription to 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage for just $129.97 using coupon code: KOOFR through May 5 at 11:59 PM Pacific.   Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) Only $129.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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Macworld Podcast: Apple ‘Let Loose’ iPad event and what to expect
Macworld Apple is having an event on May 7. What do we expect to see? New iPads, maybe a new Apple Pencil, and more! We talk about it all on this episode of the Macworld Podcast! This is episode 882 with Karen Haslam, David Price, and Roman Loyola. Listen to episode 882 on Apple Podcasts Listen to episode 882 on Spotify Get info Click on the links below for more information on what was discussed on the show. 2024 iPad Air: Everything you need to know about the 6th-gen model  2024 iPad Pro: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next flagship tablet  Apple Pencil 3 with a new squeeze gesture could be coming soon  The ridiculously long wait for iPads has reached 18 months New AirPods 2024: What to expect from the AirPods, Pro, Lite, and Max Subscribe to the Macworld Podcast You can subscribe to the Macworld Podcast—or leave us a review!—right here in the Podcasts app. The Macworld Podcast is also available on Spotify. Or you can point your favorite podcast-savvy RSS reader at: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/macworld To find previous episodes, visit Macworld’s podcast page or our home on MegaPhone. iPad

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Apple mulling new deal terms to change how it pays creators of its TV+ shows
As the frantic investor hype around streaming dies down, every studio is re-evaluating the way they do business, what shows they are commissioning, and their relationships with creators. The financially-rich Apple has less pressure to do this than most, but we have seen changes at Apple Studios too, albeit perhaps to a lesser extent compared to other streaming outlets. The Ankler reports today in its Dealmakers column that Apple is talking to producers and agents about a potential new deal structure for their originals going forward. more…

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Google paid Apple whopping $20 billion to remain iPhone’s default search engine in 2022
Court documents confirm that Apple received $20 billion from Google in 2022 for making it the default search engine on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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How to use Siri in CarPlay with or without your voice
Being able to make a request using Siri while driving helps keep your eyes on the road, but just asking for Siri may not work on older cars or in certain other circumstances. Here's the fix.For most people using CarPlay, being able to call the vocal assistant Siri up by simply saying its name — or preceded with "hey" — is a great convenience. From asking for directions to checking where you need to go next, it makes driving safer.Occasionally, however, you may find Siri doesn't respond when called for. This can have a variety of causes, but it seems to happen more often with wireless CarPlay compared to when the iPhone is plugged into a USB port. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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