AirTag 2 is a missed opportunity for a reboot
Macworld The new AirTag, announced earlier today, does the same things as the first one, but it does them a little better. It has a longer Precision Finding range and a louder speaker. This sounds good, and certainly isn’t unwelcome. The problem is what hasn’t changed. We gave the 2021 AirTag a solid review because it did its job well. The design was slimline and unobtrusive, tracking was effective and easy to use, and the price was right. It was an excellent Bluetooth tracker embodying many of Apple’s best qualities. But there were problems too. For one, that attractive design was available in just one wallet-unfriendly size and was too elegantly minimalist to include anything as plebeian as a hole, which meant the AirTag nearly always had to be used in conjunction with an accessory such as a keyring or luggage tag. For another, there emerged serious concerns about privacy, after unscrupulous parties started using the device to stalk their victims: slipped in a pocket or tucked into a car’s wheel well, it might not be discovered until too late. Apple, to its credit, took the stalking issue seriously and quickly addressed it with firmware updates. Nowadays, AirTags beep once separated from their owner for a matter of hours rather than days, and will send smartphone alerts to any unfamiliar devices that are traveling with it. This was a necessary and admirable step. But the side effect is that AirTags aren’t as useful as anti-theft devices, because tracking a stolen device is functionally the same as stalking the thief. You can beat theft or stalking, but not both. Despite these two quibbles the original AirTag was widely praised and appears to have been a minor success. So it would not have been a surprise if Apple launched a follow-up one or two years later with only minimal changes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The original AirTag had problems that haven’t been fixed.Foundry But Apple didn’t do that, and it gradually became clear that the second model wouldn’t arrive for a while. (Back in 2023, I wrote an article warning that the AirTag 2 had been postponed to 2025. Turns out even that was optimistic.) When the second version of a product arrives the better part of five years after the first one, consumers are liable to expect something more substantive. Or maybe that’s just journalists. Regardless, a lot of time has passed. Indeed, in the absence of new hardware, Apple has been busily working on the software side to upgrade the AirTag experience. In an even older article, I discussed seven ways the product could be improved in the second generation, and it’s gratifying to note how many were quietly sorted before the AirTag 2 arrived. Separation alerts: Check. Sharing: Check. Improved privacy measures: Check. Against that backdrop, I was keyed up for the actual AirTag 2 to complete the set with hardware upgrades. On the plus side, we get a longer effective location range, which ticks another of my requests. And there might be a child safety mechanism on the battery compartment, which probably wouldn’t get a mention in a press release for obvious reasons. But we’re definitely missing the multiple size/style options and the all-important keyring hole, which you’ll notice were the top two entries on my list. Which is rather disappointing. This was an opportunity to rethink the product from the ground up, to actively engage with the problems that firmware cannot fix. And instead of asking the hard questions, the company chose to tinker very slightly with the elements that already work. It puts me in mind of the HomePod 2, whose designers apparently spent five years rebalancing the bass and completely failed to address the original model’s serious issues with voice control and Wi-Fi connectivity. This is not to say that the AirTag 2 is a bad product; I look forward to trying it out and have high hopes for a slick, competent user experience… just like the AirTag 1. I just think that after all these years, and all those firmware updates, Apple could have been a little more ambitious on the hardware side than a new chip and a louder speaker.

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Does Tim Cook even care about Apple’s image anymore?
Macworld Apple, traditionally, has been known for great message discipline. We might not have always liked its message, and its message was sometimes pretty glad-handed, but it was usually consistent. What happened with that? One event that occurred over the weekend really puts how Apple is at odds with itself into stark contrast. Based on who he likes to hang out with on a Saturday night, one wishes Apple CEO Tim Cook were a bit more of a homebody. The day that ICE agents killed another U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Cook went to the White House that sent those agents to Minnesota so he could attend the viewing of a weapons-grade hagiography about the First Lady. This would be the hagiography directed by accused sexual predator Brett Ratner. You have to be a pretty bad person to have X-Men: The Last Stand be low on the list of your offenses. Cook, who many gushed over for courteously and rightly not putting his hands on the hips of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon when photographed with them at the premiere of “The Morning Show”, even posed for a picture with Ratner. Fun! Or as Terrance O’Brien wrote in The Verge, “When you’re cool with doing a fascism (sic), what’s a few sexual misconduct accusations?” Well, “a few” would be six. At least six sexual misconduct accusations. It’s too bad for Cook that there are pictures because Ratner is famous for claiming through his lawyer to “have no recollection of the incident” when women detail incidents involving him, so maybe he might have afforded Cook the same… hmm, “courtesy” is really the wrong word here. “Callous dismissal”! That’s more like it. You will excuse some of us for feeling a bit of whiplash here. Does Cook’s attendance and chumminess with the President (no slouch in the sexual misconduct allegations count himself) seem in line with Apple’s historical level of prudence? It’s especially bad considering the App Store still hosts apps that create CSAM and non-consensual sexual images. Grok Floods X With Sexualize Images of Women and Children That headline is not from before “Grok apologized” (the most sarcastic of quotes imaginable, as AI is not sentient, no matter what terminally online edgelords or AI executives tell you). It is not from before xAI promised it would fix the situation. Twice. First by monetizing it and then by saying it stopped it when it hadn’t at all stopped it. No, this is from five days ago, and literally nothing has happened since. X and Grok both remain on the App Store as of this writing. The Macalope is old enough to remember when Apple said “stopping inappropriate content is a top priority” of the App Store. Oh, wait, it still says that. Weird. They must not have updated the App Store’s web page to indicate it happily hosts apps that make non-consensual porn there now. Very strange. How odd. If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.Foundry Cook’s apparent lack of regard for even the optics of attending these events, let alone the morality, leads the Macalope to believe that he will resign as Apple CEO sooner rather than later (probably within the next year). Cook will move into the position of chairman of the board and continue to hang out with and butter up the president, giving him participation trophies and million-dollar donations, providing cover for incoming CEO John Ternus. Cook will no longer be Apple CEO, so it’ll all be cool. Except he is the Apple CEO right now. Seven days ago, Apple’s homepage, as it does every year, honored Martin Luther King Jr. Cook, meanwhile, honors a president who faces a defamation suit from five wrongly convicted black men he said should be executed and has never apologized for, and had to be browbeaten into recognizing the national holiday. Apple needs to decide which things it wants to do here. Does it want to continue to suck up to the president, or does it want to get points for dedicating its home page to King? And does it want to keep saying stopping inappropriate content on the App Store is a priority, or does it want to continue to host X and Grok? Continuing to try to do all these things is becoming an increasingly obvious farce.

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Apple @ Work Podcast: Vendor collaboration will be required in the AI era
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, we finish up our 2-part series about AI and networking with Aruna Ravichandran, SVP & CMO – Collaboration, Enterprise Networking, at Cisco more…

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Journey ALTI Lift Review: A smart desk mat with 15W Qi2 wireless charging
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Fully adjustable 15W iPhone charger Two different surfaces Charging mat can be attached left or right Hidden place for notes Cons No power supply included Not for open-desk offices Our Verdict The stylish Journey ALTI Lift Wireless Desk Mat not only creates a calm and uncluttered workspace in the home or office that looks and feels great but is also a handy fast charging station for your favorite Apple devices. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$149.99 Best Prices Today: Journey ALTI Lift Retailer Price Journey $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Desk mats, like mouse mats, seem like a thing from the past, when today it’s all yoga mats—but desk mats are a lot smarter than yesterday’s executive desk organizers. The Journey ALTI Lift Wireless Charging Desk Mat is the latest in Journey’s ALTI range, and the newest version includes a tilting fast-charging stand for your iPhone—placing it close at hand for voice and video calls, as well as messaging while you work at your desktop Mac or MacBook. Journey Design Available in Black or Gray Beige (ignore the dull name, it’s actually a lovely sand color), the ALTI Lift Wireless Charging Desk Mat measures 28.7 x 14.6 inches (73 x 37cm), with a height of 0.16 inches (4mm)—so not for offices with an open-desk policy. You can flip between the cool leather side and a warmer felt, depending on your mood. The charging pad itself is covered in matching vegan leather. Anti-slip stickers keep the mat securely in place during use.  The double-sided mat keeps your keyboard and mouse in place, but the real action is to the side—either side, again based on your preference or right/left-handedness. Simon Jary The charging side panel is 3.7 inches (9.5cm) wide and attaches to the main section magnetically (see above). At the top of that panel, the iPhone stand can be swivelled and tilted, and will wirelessly charge at Qi2’s full 15W—twice as fast as the previous 7.5W (MagSafe Compatible) flat wireless charger on the earlier ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat and Slim version, but the same as on the 15W (certified MagSafe) ALTI Ultra Fast Wireless Charging Desk Mat and light-up ALTI Play (Black only). The company also sells a MacBook sleeve that incorporates wireless charging; see our Journey Nexa review. Simon Jary All previous Journey ALTI desk mats have featured flat pads for iPhone charging, and the new pull-up fully rotational ‘Lift’ adjustability is this update’s biggest benefit. The claimed 360-degree rotation is achieved in either 180 degrees clockwise and anti-clockwise rotations, with the charging pad flipping over to face either you or someone sitting opposite. The phone can also be laid flat to minimize distractions. A small recess lower down the side panel houses another (5W) wireless charger for AirPods case. You could instead (slowly) charge a second iPhone here. Apple Watch owners will need to look elsewhere: we recommend the best Apple Watch chargers elsewhere. The iPhone can rest flat to reduce distraction while you work. It can also charge (slowly) in the AirPods section, which might be useful for charging a second phone.Simon Jary On earlier ALTI models, there was a white LED at the top to indicate whether the entire charging pad is active or if one of the devices on it is currently charging. This is not a feature on the ALTI Lift. You won’t eliminate all clutter as even wireless chargers need to be connected to power—only the phone to charger part is wireless. That means the included 1.5m cable cable needs to be connected to a USB-C wall or desktop charger. You could plug the ALTI’s cable into a powered MacBook ‘s Thunderbolt port, which can deliver a total of 15W. That’s theoretically enough to match the wireless charger’s max power but you’ll lose likely a few watts in the process. A better plan would be to follow Journey’s advice to use a USB-C charger of at least 30W. See our list of recommended USB-C chargers. Recommended reading: Is Qi2 and latest Qi2.2 wireless charging better than MagSafe? Journey To keep your workspace uncluttered, you can tuck a small number of documents between the mat’s layers to keep your workspace clutter-free. Just don’t forget you put them there! There’s even a magnetic ring included to enable non-MagSafe phones to charge wirelessly. This is something iPhone 16e users may benefit from as that phone doesn’t support MagSafe officially, although it will actually work with MagSafe chargers. Journey Price The Journey ALTI Lift is sold exclusively through the company’s own online store and costs $149.99 / £119.99 / CA$179.99 / AU$169.99 / €139.99, which at first seems rather expensive, and it’s certainly not pocket change. However, Journey’s well-crafted solution is the best we’ve seen and of course includes a 2-in-1 wireless charger, including a 15W charging stand on an interchangeable side panel. You’ll need to supply your own wall charger, though. Should you buy the Journey ALTI Lift Wireless Charging Desk Mat The stylish Journey ALTI Lift Wireless Desk Mat not only creates a calm and uncluttered (fixed) workspace in the home or office that looks and feels great but is also a handy fast charging station for your favorite Apple devices. It’s not cheap but it doesn’t look or feel cheap, either, and its built-in charging functionality is second to none.

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The Mac mini is at the center of the latest AI meme
Macworld I may be a middle-aged man, but I’ll admit that I appreciated the nonsensical, non-sequiturness of the whole 67 meme. It was funny, though I wasn’t enthralled with it like the young kids of today. But that’s cool, let them have their meme! But now there’s a meme that I’m totally gung-ho for, like kids chanting “6-7! 6-7!” This one involves, of all things, the Mac mini, and, of all things, AI. Clawdbot is a free, open-source AI assistant that anyone can set up and use can run on any Windows or Linux PC, but if you’ve been following AI developments, then you know that the more processing power you can provide, the more you can get out of AI, which is where the Mac mini comes in. And which leads to the meme: Pictures of stacks and stacks of Mac minis running Clawdbot as if it were an actual living being. Some of the posts on social media will make you giggle like those 6-7 kids: If you don’t have 13 Mac minis set up with clawbot running and grinding 24 hours a day. Then throw in the towel, you’re already left behind. pic.twitter.com/a94v8brNab— Ben Alfrey | B2B (@benalfrey) January 24, 2026 Had some fun todayGot 12 Mac Minis setup with 12 Clawdbots running 12 Ralph Wiggums with my 12 Claude Max PlansWake up. It’s 2026. You’re getting left behind in the dust pic.twitter.com/2vul9aJGCk— Jeff Tang (@jefftangx) January 23, 2026 pic.twitter.com/kjZcQyoRBz— Sam Redlich (@SamRedlich) January 25, 2026 Others are just downright ridiculous: Flying home and I noticed everyone sitting in first class was running clawdbot on a Mac mini with a $200 claude max planI looked back and everyone else was running clawd on a $5 vps Just an interesting observation pic.twitter.com/2bMzzCuHoV— Ryley Randall (@ryleyrandall22) January 25, 2026 Running a Honda Accord with a couple Mac minis and https://t.co/iaidQvqV2w.Not calling it self driving yet, but it hasn’t missed an exit. #clawdbot #MACMINI #fsd pic.twitter.com/A7DCVUJlMT— Leonardo Schneider (@leoschneider) January 25, 2026 Clawdbot is explodingDevs buying out Mac Minis to run their 24/7 AI employees. With gold & silver ripping the real commodity play is hardware for AI agents$MACMINI lets you bet on this niche boom pic.twitter.com/TMVzr6gnsZ— blockchainz (@blockchainz555) January 26, 2026 lololol pic.twitter.com/0niJHEanqo— Nimrod Gutman (@theguti) January 26, 2026 The meme pokes fun at the hype AI has received. Obviously, there’s a lot of AI-generated images being used and hyperbole about using Clawdbot, but Clawdbot is a real thing that has a lot of potential. MacStories has an excellent hands-on with Clawdbot, and you can download and use the software for free. However, it’s not the typical software you download, run an installer, and launch; it requires some serious tinkering. But if you’re up for it, you could unleash a powerful tool.

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Still using old Windows? Fix that with Windows 11 Pro while it’s only $10
Macworld TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 through Feb. 1, giving your PC a faster, more secure OS with Copilot AI and pro-level features for a one-time payment. Running an outdated version of Windows is like driving with the check-engine light permanently on—things still work, but not well. Right now, there’s an easy fix: upgrade to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97 (MSRP $199), and give your PC a faster, smarter, more secure operating system before this deal disappears. Windows 11 Pro brings a cleaner, faster interface, smarter multitasking tools like Snap Layouts, and built-in security features such as TPM 2.0, BitLocker, and Smart App Control. Gamers benefit from DirectX 12 Ultimate, while professionals get advanced tools like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, and Azure AD support. One of the biggest upgrades? Copilot, Windows 11’s AI-powered assistant. Copilot helps you summarize web pages, adjust system settings, brainstorm ideas, generate code, and even create images—right from your desktop. It’s like having built-in tech support and a creative assistant rolled into one. This is a one-time purchase with a lifetime license. Just make sure your PC meets Windows 11 system requirements before buying. If you have a PC at home, get Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (MSRP $199) through Feb. 1. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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iOS 26.3 will stop carriers from seeing your exact location
Apple plans to stop carriers from seeing your exact location in iOS 26.3, but the feature will be limited to devices with its own modem. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple updates iOS 12 to extend iMessage and FaceTime support on older devices
Apple has released iOS 12.5.8 for a small group of older iPhones, iPads, and the iPod touch, containing an important update for devices that can’t upgrade to modern versions of iOS. Here are the details. more…

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Apple Launches AirTag 2 With Improved Range, Louder Speaker
Apple has launched a new AirTag 2 that features improved range, a speaker that's 50% louder, and expanded Apple Watch-based tracking. Pricing stays the same at $29 (or $99 for four). 9to5Mac reports: The new AirTag comes with an upgraded second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for improved range, including when using Precision Finding. From Apple Newsroom: "Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip -- the same chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11 -- powers the new AirTag, making it easier to locate than ever before. Using haptic, visual, and audio feedback, Precision Finding guides users to their lost items from up to 50 percent farther away than the previous generation. And an upgraded Bluetooth chip expands the range at which items can be located. For the first time, users can use Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, to find their AirTag, bringing a powerful experience to the wrist." Another key upgrade with the new AirTag is an improved speaker, which should also make the accessory easier to find. Apple says: "With its updated internal design, the new AirTag is 50 percent louder than the previous generation, enabling users to hear their AirTag from up to 2x farther than before." Apple also touts privacy and security improvements with the new AirTag: "Designed exclusively for tracking objects, and not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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You can now use apps like Slack, Figma, and Canva directly inside Claude
From drafting Slack messages to updating project timelines on Asana, Claude now lets you work inside connected apps without ever leaving the chatbot. Here’s how it works. more…

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AirTag 2: Three tidbits you might have missed
Apple today announced its second-generation AirTag, bringing major improvements to the incredible popular item tracker. Here are three things you might have missed. more…

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Audio-Technica ATH-R50x headphones review: Open-backed music to my ears
The Audio-Technica ATH-R50x look and sound great, and they benefit from their open-ear design in ways that have made them my go-to headphones for Mac gaming, music, and more.Audio-Technica ATH-R50x review: Just how headphones should lookYou don't necessarily have to be an audiophile to be familiar with the name Audio-Technica. The Japanese company has been making audio gear since 1962, so it's not new to the headphone game.In fact, it's not new to most aspects of audio. Visit the company's website today, and you'll see headphones, turntables, microphones, and more on offer. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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It's not usable yet, but Asahi Linux runs on M3 Macs now
While Apple Silicon Macs natively only support macOS, that hasn't stopped enthusiasts from finding a way to install Linux on M3-based machines, with big caveats.Asahi Linux project contributors have managed to boot a version of Linux on M3-based Macs.As far back as 2021, users have been trying to port Linux to Apple Silicon machines. Eventually, the operating system was made usable on Macs equipped with Apple's M1 and M2 chips. With some effort, you can even run it on the original Mac Studio.The Asahi Linux project has the goal of making the Linux kernel compatible with Apple Silicon, making the operating system available to users and gamers with Macs featuring an M-series chip. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple C-series modem enables new privacy-focused limit precise location feature
A user's location data is incredibly sensitive information, and while it can be kept from apps on iPhone, carriers have always had full access to precise location data. That changes with iOS 26.3.iPhone Cellular Data Options will get a new toggle for C-series modem devicesIt is no secret that carriers have access to user data related to when and where they connect to which cell towers. Device data passed to the carrier for connection enables precise user tracking, which led to a privacy violation lawsuit carriers lost in 2020.Now, that valuable data is about to become much less so thanks to another Apple update. Much like App Tracking Transparency helped protect users on the web, iCloud Private Relay helped protect users from ISP snooping, the new limit precise location will help obfuscate user location data from carriers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple TV adds Richard Gere to upcoming limited series with Jessica Chastain and Ben Stiller
As reported by Deadline, Gere will join Chastain and Stiller on “The Off Weeks”, an eight-part limited series to be directed by Michael Showalter (The Dropout). Here are the details. more…

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Apple expands iPhone share in India as overall smartphone market shipments flatten
As reported by TechCrunch, Apple’s iPhone shipment share in India rose to a record 9% in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research data. Here are the details. more…

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iOS 26.3 adds new feature to limit location data shared with your carrier
In a new support document today, Apple details a new iOS 26.3 feature exclusive to devices with an Apple modem: “limit precise location.” Apple explains that this setting allows you to “limit some information that cellular networks may use to determine your location.” more…

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Third iOS 26.3, macOS Tahoe 26.3 developer betas are available to download
Apple has moved on to its third round of developer betas for iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3.Apple's hardware that works with the 26-generation operating systems - Image Credit: AppleThe third round for iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and macOS Tahoe 26.3 follows after the second, which Apple introduced on January 12. The first batch appeared on December 15, 2025.Along with the main developer beta releases, Apple has also provided testers with background security updates, outside the usual update flow. This may be Apple testing the function, and there's no guarantee that more will be made available in the future. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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App Store 2025 Top iPhone Apps in the U.S.
The only apps in the top 10 not from Google or Meta are ChatGPT (#1) and TikTok (#4).

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Apple releases third RCs for macOS Sequoia 15.7.4 and macOS Sonoma 14.8.4
In addition to macOS Tahoe 26.3 beta 3, Apple has released new beta updates for older macOS versions. Here are the details. more…

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