Pitaka MagEZ car mount elevates iPhone charging on the road [Review] ★★★★☆
Need to charge and view your iPhone or Android handset on the road? The Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 makes it stylishly easy. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple To Launch 'Passwords' App, Intensifying Competition With 1Password, LastPass
Apple will introduce a new app called Passwords next week, aiming to simplify website and software logins for users, according to Bloomberg. The app -- offered as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 -- will be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10. Powered by iCloud Keychain, Passwords will generate and manage passwords, allowing imports from rival services, and support Vision Pro headset and Windows computers. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Free Bartender alternative Hidden Bar does everything needed
Hidden Bar is a free Bartender alternative which might find itself seeing quite an uptake in demand, following the surprise takeover of the popular Mac utility. While Bartender’s creator did later chip in with some comforting words, Bartender has a fairly frightening list of permissions – including the ability to take screengrabs of our Macs – so it’s not surprising that a number of us have opted to err on the side of caution … more…

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Streaming services raise premium subscription rates while embracing ad-supported tiers
Premium, ad-free streaming service tiers have become a primary target of price increases as media companies like Netflix, Max, and Amazon… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Best Apple Watch deals this month
Macworld The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch on the market for many, offering a high-quality smartwatch experience, but it’s not cheap—starting at $399/£3999 for the Apple Watch Series 9. However, you don’t have to pay full price for an Apple Watch. Right now resellers are offering some fantastic deals on the Apple Watch. The deals are likely to get even better as resellers start to clear out stock of older Apple Watch models that Apple has stopped selling since introducing the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 at its September iPhone event. If it doesn’t have to be the newest Apple Watch, you could see some good savings. Another way to save money is to find a deal that bundles an Apple Watch with another device. In this article, we share the best Apple Watch deals you can get right now so you don’t have to pay full price. If you are trying to choose the best Apple Watch for you read: Best Apple Watch: Which Apple Watch to buy. Best Apple Watch deals The Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 went on sale on September 22, 2023. Apple has now discontinued the older models. You may see a deal on one of the older watches now, but the deals on those models need to be really good to justify spending money on them instead of the newer Watches. U.S. Walmart, Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm): $299 ($100 off, MSRP $399) Walmart, Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm): $329 ($100 off, MSRP $429) Walmart, Apple Watch SE 2 (40mm): $189 ($60 off, MSRP $249) Walmart, Apple Watch SE 2 (44mm): $209 ($70 off, MSRP $279) Amazon, Apple Watch Ultra 2: $750 ($49 off after coupon, MSRP $799) U.K. We aren’t seeing many deals on the newer watches, but you can find money off the older Apple Watches. AO, Apple Watch Ultra 2: £779 (£20, RRP: £799) John Lewis, Apple Watch SE2: £199 (£20 off, RRP: £219) Use our automatic price tracker to compare prices for the most popular models across various retailers. Best Apple Watch Series 9 deals The Apple Watch 9 (2023 model) starts at $399/£399 for the aluminum 41mm version and $429/£429 for the 44mm model. It’s an extra $100/£100 for cellular. The Series 8 previously sold for $399/£419 for the 41mm version and $429/£449 for the 44mm model, so the U.K. price is better this time. We aren’t yet seeing any deals on this new model. Apple Watch Series 9, from $399/£399 New Refurbished Retailer Price $399 View Deal $399 View Deal $429 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch (Series 9) September 2023 – Wifi Only – 41 – Aluminium Silver – Sport band Blue $328 View Deal Smart Watch MR953LL/A HR – Pink $399 View Deal Apple Watch (Series 9) March 2022 – Wifi Only – 41 – Aluminium Pink – Sport band Pink $409 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals The Apple Watch Ultra 2 (2023 model) starts at $799/£799. It comes with cellular. The original Ultra previously sold for $799/£849, so the U.K. price is better this time. EBuyer in the U.K. has a ‘deal’, but the £10 off doesn’t include free postage. Apple Watch Ultra 2, from $799/£799 New Refurbished Retailer Price $779.99 View Deal $799 View Deal $799 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch (Ultra) September 2023 – Cellular – 49 – Aluminium Blue – Alpine loop Blue $589 View Deal Apple Watch (Ultra) September 2023 – Cellular – 49 – Titanium Titanium – Trail loop Blue/Black $618.07 View Deal Apple Watch (Ultra) September 2023 – Cellular – 49 – Titanium Natural Titanium – Ocean band Blue $632 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Best Apple Watch SE (2022) deals The Apple Watch SE (2022 model) starts at $249/£219 (was £259) for the 40mm version and $279/£249 (was £299) for the 44mm model. It’s an extra $50/£50 for cellular. Apple Watch SE from $249/£219 New Refurbished Retailer Price $189 View Deal $199 View Deal $249 View Deal $288.99 View Deal $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch (Series SE) September 2022 – Wifi Only – 40 – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $159.67 View Deal Apple Watch (Series 2) 2022 – Wifi Only – 40 mm – Aluminium Starlight – Sport band Beige $172.25 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Save money: Buy an old Apple Watch These watches have been discontinued by Apple but it is likely that they will still be sold by third parties for some time. You will possibly be able to buy a refurbished model from Apple’s Refurbished Store, or from one of the resellers below. Apple Watch Ultra 1 deals The first Apple Watch Ultra sold for $799/£849, the new Apple Watch Ultra is just £799 in the U.K. though, so make sure the price you see is less than that! Apple Watch Ultra 1 was from $799/£849 New Refurbished Retailer Price $799 View Deal $799 View Deal $799.99 View Deal $799.99 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Apple Watch (Ultra) September 2023 – Cellular – 49 – Titanium Titanium – Alpine loop Green $649.99 View Deal Apple Watch (Ultra) September 2022 – Cellular – 49 – Titanium Titanium – Alpine loop Green $846 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 8 deals The first Apple Watch 8 sold for $399/£419, the new Apple Watch 9 stays at the same price in the U.S., but is just £399 in the U.K. So make sure the price you see is less than that! Apple Watch 8 was from $399/£419 New Refurbished Retailer Price $335.49 View Deal $379.99 View Deal $389 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch (Series 8) September 2022 – Wifi Only – 41 – Aluminium Midnight – Sport band Midnight $243.05 View Deal Apple Watch (Series 8) September 2022 – Wifi Only – 45 – Aluminium Silver – Sport band White $256.89 View Deal Apple Watch (Series 8) September 2022 – Wifi Only – 41 – Aluminium Black – Sport band Black $256.89 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Apple Watch Series 7 deals The Apple Watch 7 is no longer sold by Apple, but it used to cost from $399/£369 for the 41mm version without cellular, while the 45mm variant started at $429/£399. If any resellers have stock to sell you’ll find it below. Apple Watch 7 was from $399/£369 New Refurbished Retailer Price Apple Refurbished $299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Apple Watch (Series 7) 2021 – Wifi Only – 41 – Aluminium Blue – Sport band Blue $204.99 View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Where to buy an Apple Watch If you’re simply looking to pick up an Apple Watch regardless of price, there are plenty of stores that sell not only the latest Apple Watch Series 7, but older variants of the Apple Watch that aren’t available from Apple anymore—some at significant savings, too. Apple Watch buyers in the U.S. can check out the following stores: Apple Amazon Best Buy Costco Target Walmart If you’re based in the UK, you can pick up an Apple Watch from the following retailers: Apple Amazon Argos Carphone Warehouse Currys John Lewis KRCS Very Where to buy an Apple Watch with Cellular You’ve also got the option of picking up an Apple Watch with a cellular contract, allowing it to function as a standalone device that doesn’t need to be tethered to your phone to make calls and send texts. Amazon and other retailers sell the Apple Watch with Cellular and you can usually find discounts on most models, though not as deep as the GPS versions. Here are the sales we’re tracking this month: All of the major U.S. carriers sell the Apple Watch and offer trade-in deals: T-Mobile Verizon AT&T Carriers in the UK that stock the Apple Watch include: EE O2 Vodafone Best refurbished Apple Watch deals One of the best places to look for Apple Watch deals all year round is the Apple Refurbished Store. There, you’ll find huge Apple Watch discounts, sometimes even on the latest models. These Apple Watches have been returned to Apple for various reasons, and then completely revamped for resale. One of the major benefits of buying a refurbished Watch from Apple is that it will come with a one-year warranty so Apple may fix or replace it for free should anything happen to it in that first year. In the U.S. you can get an Apple Watch Series 7, Series 8 or Apple Watch SE for less than the full price. You can save $110 on a refurbished Apple Watch 8 with Cellular in the stainless steel case. Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple's refurbished store (U.S.) In the U.K. you can also save on an Apple Watch Series 7, Series 8 or Apple Watch SE. You can save £120 on a refurbished Apple Watch 8 with Cellular in the stainless steel case. Get a refurbished Apple Watch at Apple's refurbished store (U.K.) Read Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch? See our roundup of the best Apple Watch bands, as well as our roundup of the best stands and charging docks. Also, note that Apple has left the power adapter out of the box for the Apple Watch Series 6 and later. Read: Which plug do I need for my Apple Watch? If this is your first time buying and using an Apple Watch, we’ve also got helpful tips on how to use the Apple Watch. Apple Inc, Apple Watch

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Don’t miss this major deal on Beats Fit Pro earbuds [45% off]
Want great-sounding, noise-canceling earbuds at a bargain price? Beats Fit Pro earbuds will elevate your listening experience. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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An Apple Passwords app will be a small change with a big impact
One of the things we’re expecting to be announced next week is a ‘new’ Apple Passwords app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac – a move we’ve suggested on more than one occasion. For 9to5Mac readers, this will bring one small but worthwhile benefit. The really big impact, though, will be with non-techies … more…

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Unsend and edit iPhone messages after you send them
Knowing how to unsend an iMessage on iPhone can help you out of a pickle if you accidentally shoot off a text to the wrong person. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Ahead of WWDC, Apple highlights developer resources – inc YouTube channel
With WWDC fast approaching, Apple has highlighted some of the resources and support options available to developers. These include the YouTube channel first announced back in March, and the Pathways resource launched last month … more…

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Apple renews hit, star-studded comedy series ‘Palm Royale’ for season two
On the heels of its critically acclaimed season one finale, Apple TV+ announced a season two renewal for its global hit comedy, “Palm Royale.” The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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In depth with iPad Air, iPad Pro and the future of iPadOS on the AppleInsider podcast
Now that the new iPad Air and iPad Pro have been thoroughly used in real-world tests, it's time to see how they measure up — and exactly how iPadOS is holding them back. Or at least, how it's holding them back as we wait to see what WWDC brings.Apple's new13-inch iPad ProThere's no question but that the new iPad Pro is a remarkable device and the new iPad Air is a fine, lower-cost alternative. But especially with the iPad Pro and its M4 processor, it is yet again a case of the iPad's software feeling as if it lags very far behind the hardware.This time, though, Apple launched this powerful new iPad Pro just weeks before it announces the next major update to iPadOS. WWDC is just moments away now and amongst everything else to do with AI, the Mac, the iPhone, the Apple Watch, and the Apple Vision Pro, iPad users are going to be watching with their fingers crossed. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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How to watch Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote live
Macworld Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is a hugely important event, second in significance only to the company’s iPhone launch each fall. WWDC is important because, at the opening keynote presentation, we get to hear what Apple has in store for its various operating systems, and therefore for the devices that run them. If you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, WWDC will be relevant to you, and we strongly recommend that you watch the keynote. Fortunately, you don’t need an invite. The keynote will be streamed online for everyone to watch live. We have embedded the live stream below, so you can watch it here once the event starts. There are other options too, and we outline these below. If you’re interested in watching the keynote, here’s everything you need to know. You can about WWDC 2024, including the products we expect to launch, in a separate article. When is the WWDC 2024 keynote? The keynote kicks off WWDC at 10 a.m. PDT on June 10, 2024. The event will probably last about one to two hours. Here’s what that translates to around the world: U.S.: 10 a.m. (PDT); 11 a.m. (MDT), noon (CDT), 1 p.m. (EDT) Canada: 10 a.m. (PDT); 11 a.m. (MDT), noon (CDT), 1 p.m. EDT, 2 p.m. (ADT) U.K.: 6 p.m. (BST) Europe: 7 p.m. (CEST) India: 10.30 p.m. (IST) Singapore and China: June 11 at 1 a.m. (CST) Japan: June 11 at 2 a.m. (JST) Australia: June 11 at 1 a.m. (AWST); 2.30 a.m. (ACST); 3 a.m. (AEST) New Zealand: June 11 at 5 a.m. (NZST) How to watch the WWDC 2024 keynote Other than YouTube, there are several ways to watch the WWDC keynote depending on your device: Watch on Apple’s own website. Watch via the TV app on an Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In the past, Apple has also streamed the event live on Twitter. It doesn’t seem to be repeating this experiment, instead directing followers to apple.com, but there may well be promoted tweets posted during the event. When we get closer to the date of WWDC 2024 Apple’s special events page will have all the info you need, including the option to add it to your calendar. How to watch the WWDC 2024 keynote on a Mac On Apple’s website, either on the Apple Events page or on apple.com. On Apple’s YouTube channel. In the TV app. After the keynote’s initial airing, it will be available in Apple’s TV and Podcasts apps. How to watch the WWDC 2024 keynote on iPhone or iPad On the Apple website, either on the Apple Events page or on apple.com On Apple’s YouTube channel, either through Safari or via the YouTube app. In the TV app. How to watch the WWDC 2024 keynote on Apple TV You can watch the keynote via the TV app, which means you’ll need an Apple TV that supports the App Store and has the TV app. Previously Apple hosted the WWDC keynote inside a dedicated Events app on the Apple TV but that app has since been made redundant. Instead, the keynote will appear as an option within the TV app. How to watch the WWDC 2024 keynote on a PC PC owners will need Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 to watch on Apple’s site. Or they can watch using YouTube as above. How to watch the WWDC keynote on anything else… Apple says other platforms may be able to access the stream using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC required). To watch, visit the Apple Events page. Can I join the WWDC 2024 sessions? WWDC isn’t just the keynote. There are also in-depth sessions where developers can learn more about the various platforms and network with Apple staff and other members of the community. In the past, these sessions would have taken place in person; in the more recent past, Apple has allowed registered developers to access the WWDC sessions online. Keep an eye on Apple’s WWDC developer page for the latest details of the sessions running and how to access them. Developers are also encouraged to download the Apple Developer app for more information. This year, as in 2023, there will be an in-person component to the event, and select invitees will be at Apple Park to watch the keynote ‘live’ (although the presentation will probably be a pre-recorded video). This means the lucky attendees will also get to attend the sessions in the flesh. Tickets to this event were made available via a lottery, and this closed some time ago. If you haven’t heard by now, you’re not invited. How to register as a developer To register as a developer and gain access to the online components of WWDC (and qualify for the ticket lottery next year), head over to the Apple Developer Program registration page and click Start Your Enrollment at the bottom of the page. We run through the process here: How to join Apple’s beta program. Registering as an Apple developer is free but if you want full access to support materials and publish apps, you’ll need to pay $99 a year. However, if you only want to test the latest betas, it’s free. You can sign in with your own Apple ID or create a dedicated Apple ID just for the developer account. Apple Inc, iPad, iPhone, Mac

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iOS 18 and macOS 15 to include new retro wallpaper packs from Apple
If you’re a fan of retro iPhone and Mac wallpapers, Apple has a few surprises in store for you this year. Bloomberg reports today that iOS 18 and macOS 15 will include new wallpaper packs that harken back to old school icons, slogans, and artwork. more…

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iOS 18 AI boost could be called 'Apple Intelligence'
Apple's name for its big AI push at WWDC could be quite simple, with it reportedly called "Apple Intelligence."WWDC 2024's big thing is expected to be AI. Apple is widely thought to be making more of an effort to introduce AI into customer lives. Monday's WWDC could end up being the first real opportunity for Apple to demonstrate what is coming to users in the future, possibly this fall.As part of the ongoing AI frenzy, Bloomberg reported on Friday that Apple will be deeply integrating AI into its main apps and OS features. It will do so while maintaining privacy and security for user data. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Feature Request: Make iPhone voice transcription a universal feature
iPhone voice transcription is already included in iMessage, and is available in some other chat apps – but not always for free. In Telegram, for example, you have to pay for a premium membership to get the feature. The latest Bloomberg piece says that Apple is finally bringing audio transcription to the Voice Memo app, and this seems a perfect opportunity to make it a system-wide feature … more…

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Adobe has clarified controversial shrinkwrap license terms, but the damage may have already been done
After a terms of service update that infuriated artists, and an initial statement that poured gasoline on the fire, Adobe has made a clear statement about its new use terms.Adobe Creative Cloud logoThe last 48 hours have been tumultuous for Adobe. Early in the week of June 3, users of Adobe Creative Cloud pointed out that the new terms of service allowed Adobe to do whatever it wanted with users projects.We saw that furor, and reached out to Adobe about it. Then, they issued an unclear statement on the matter, saying that the terms had always been this way. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Vision Pro will get a polish, not an overhaul at WWDC
The forthcoming visionOS 2.0 for Apple Vision Pro at WWDC will not be as significant an update as expected, but will address issues and bring new environments.WWDC will see enhancements rather than an overhaul to visionOSApple has been testing visionOS 2.0 since at least January 2024, but a new report suggests that its version number won't bring the changes that a whole number update implies. It will, though, offer more than the minor updates that the latest visionOS 1.2 has seen.According to Bloomberg, visionOS 2 — codenamed Constellation — is chiefly concerned with making the Apple Vision Pro software smoother and more polished. There won't be dramatically new features or revisions to existing ones. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Report: Apple to launch iOS 18 AI features marketed as ‘Apple Intelligence’
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today reports that Apple will launch its upcoming AI initiatives in iOS 18 and other operating systems under the brand name ‘Apple Intelligence’, which is obviously a convenient twist on the ‘AI’ acronym. The company will official announce the new plans at its WWDC keynote on Monday. Rather than focus on writing poetry or making up images, the Apple Intelligence suite of features will use large language models to offer functionality that helps users throughout their daily life, with abilities like summarization and rich auto-reply suggestions. more…

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How to your iPhone ready to be the first to try iOS 18 when it arrives
Macworld The Worldwide Developers Conference is just days away, and we expect to hear all about Apple’s new operating systems. With a heavy focus on AI and a lot of other features, we expect iOS 18 to be one of the biggest iOS releases in years. If you want to try it out before its release this fall, you’ll need to install the beta. We expect the developer beta to be available immediately after the keynote on June 10, while the first public beta release will come a few weeks later in July. If you want to grab it ASAP, here’s what you should do to prepare. Back up your iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC The first iOS betas are always full of bugs. New features are broken or missing, and even some of the stuff that didn’t change may stop working. Important applications may become unresponsive or crash a lot. Battery life may be terrible. There’s a reason the developer beta releases begin weeks before the public beta–they’re meant for developers to bring their apps up to date with new frameworks and APIs, and to test to see if the new OS breaks them. It’s best to install the beta on an iPhone other than the one you use every day, but if you don’t have one, there are steps you can take to easily restore back to iOS 17 if things go horribly wrong. So back up your iPhone first, using an encrypted backup to your local computer instead of the standard iCloud backup. This makes it easiest to roll back to an earlier version of iOS, which is not as easy as flipping off a switch. You’ll need to erase your iPhone, put it in recovery mode, reinstall the current version of iOS 17, and then restore your backup. Connect your iPhone and your computer with a cable. In the Finder sidebar on your Mac, select your iPhone. (On a Windows PC you’ll need iTunes: launch it and click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window.) At the top of the Finder window, click General. (In iTunes, click Summary.) Select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac. (In iTunes: Back Up Now) To encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password, select Encrypt local backup. Click Back Up Now. Register for a free developer account You no longer need a paid $100/year developer account to install the developer beta. That fee is only required to manage App Store submissions and the like, but you can install the developer beta with a free developer account. Go to the Apple Developer site to see the specifics about enrolling. You’ll have to sign in on an Apple ID that has two-factor authentication enabled and provide info like your full name and address. When you go to Settings > General > Software Updates and select the Beta Updates drop-down menu, you should see developer updates available. It may take some time after registering for a developer account for this to appear, and you might even have to restart your iPhone. So do your developer account sign up early if you want to be ready as soon as iOS 18 is available. Register for the public beta (and wait) If the prospect of running the buggy developer beta makes you nervous, and you want to run the slightly less buggy Public Beta instead, you can sign up for that at the Apple Beta site. Go to the site, hit the Sign Up button, log in to your Apple ID, and agree to the terms. Once you do, you should see Public Beta options when you go to Settings > General > Software Updates and select the Beta Updates drop-down menu. The first Public Beta of a new major iOS release usually comes in July, after two or three Developer Beta releases. It’s going to be buggy too, but not as rough as those first developer releases. Expect a rough experience! Running beta versions of a new iOS release is not like the beta of a point release. iOS 18’s first betas are going to be a lot rougher than the beta of iOS 18.3. Especially those first developer betas, which are often quite incomplete. You can expect poor battery life, apps that crash unexpectedly or don’t work at all, and new features that don’t work properly. We can’t stress enough what a bad idea it is to run the early developer beta on a device you use in your day-to-day life, unless you have a backup device or a lot of patience. It’s best to run the update on a secondary iPhone if possible, or at least update your older iPhone so it’s ready to step in as your daily driver during the beta process. iOS

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iOS 18 to include emoji reactions for iMessage, ability to schedule messages to send later
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today reported on a few additional features to expect from the Messages app in iOS 18. One of the perhaps most requested messaging changes will be an upgrade to the Tapbacks system, allowing users to respond to any message using an emoji of their choice. Apple will also another long-standing feature request, adding the ability to schedule messages to be sent at a later time. more…

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