Give your Mac a makeover with custom icons
You can change any icon on your Mac to customize it to your taste. Edit the thumbnail icon of any app, folder, disk or file.  (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple gets another App Store antitrust win, this time in China
Apple has won a lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominant power in the app marketplace, with a Chinese court rejecting claims Apple's App Store fees were too high.iOS App StoreIn 2021, Jin Xin sued Apple China, insisting Apple stopped charging its 30% App Store commission. Xin also demanded that Chinese consumers should be allowed to use other payment systems than Apple's own, as well as an apology and approximately $15,500 in compensation.Three years later, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court sided with Apple, according to a yet-to-be-published judgment received by the South China Morning Post. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple to add Japan’s ‘My Number’ ID card functions to iPhone
At the request of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Apple CEO Tim Cook agreed to put Japan's "My Number" identification card… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Deals: Apple's new 13-inch iPad Pro M4 gets a $120 price cut
Released only two weeks ago, Apple's 13-inch iPad Pro with the M4 chip is already eligible for a triple-digit discount, with limited supply available at the reduced price.Snag a limited-time 13-inch iPad Pro price cut.Apple Authorized Reseller B&H is offering the $120 discount on Apple's brand-new M4 iPad Pro 13-inch with a 2TB capacity in Space Black. The Wi-Fi model with Standard Glass, which normally sells for $2,299, is on sale for $2,179. Amazon has a few units left in stock at $2,174, with more on the way.Grab the deal at B&H Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Vision Pro Marvel app reviews: ‘Best experience’ or ‘flimsy and meh’
Hands-on reviews of the new Vision Pro Marvel app What if…? are in, and are best described as mixed. One reviewer said that it was “maybe the best hour I’ve spent on the device since I got it,” while another described it as a “flimsy” and “meh” experience. Both, however, were upbeat about the future potential … more…

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If you had an iPhone 7 with audio problems, your settlement deadline is soon
Earlier in 2024, Apple agreed to settle a class action suit over audio issues with the iPhone 7 — but conditions are very limited and the time to apply is almost over.iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 PlusIt was the "Audio IC Defect," also known as the 'loop disease,' and affected users had greyed-out speaker buttons while on a call. Plus they had loss of Siri voice commands, the Voice Memos app wouldn't work, and microphone audio quality degraded.The class action lawsuit that followed took six years to conclude with Apple agreeing to settle for a total of $35 million. Affected users were sent a postcard by the settlement administrator, and anyone receiving it has up to Monday, June 3, 2024, to respond. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Anker’s Nano Power Bank is Discounted to Just $35
Anker’s ever-reliable and stylish power bank is discounted at $15 off in today’s deal. The Nano Power Bank with USB-C Cable is down to just $34.99 from its original price of $50 on Amazon through a Prime membership. The Anker Nano Power Bank houses a 10,000 mAh battery that’s ready for charging smartphones, tablets, and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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All-screen MacBook might have the M5 chip
Apple’s rumored all-screen MacBook Pro is rumored to have the M5 chip and come in multiple sizes, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A foldable MacBook Pro has been in the rumor mill for years, but it’s only now a reliable source has updated news. While folded, the MacBook Pro will appear to be an iPad, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iOS 18 to introduce App Icon customization
A report advocates that upgrades are coming to the home screen and Apple apps for the upcoming iOS 18 that’s arriving in the fall of this year. The updates are anticipated to be announced at the WWDC event in June with the new features including enhancements based on AI. Past reports suggest that Photos, Siri, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Instagram Limits tool offering increased harassment protection for teens
Meta is offering teenagers a strengthened version of its Instagram Limits tool. When set to its highest level, only Close Friends will be able to comment, reply, tag, mention, or message them. It’s the latest development in the company’s protections for teens, after anti-grooming blocks and nudity blurring introduced earlier in the year … more…

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Black Pencil design award given to Apple Vision Pro
Apple’s Vision Pro has been bestowed the highest title in a ceremony where Apple designer Alan Dye was present. Apple has been awarded a black pencil from the Design and Art Direction a number of times for its iMac, iPhones, and even Apple’s website. This year the one to take the black pencil is Apple’s […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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How to convert YouTube to MP3 on Mac with iTubeGo
There's a near-unlimited number of YouTube videos that you might want to have an offline MP3 copy of, like podcasts or instructional audio. Here's how to convert YouTube to MP3 with iTubeGo.Convert YouTube to MP3 on Mac with iTubeGO platformYouTube is a video-first platform, but many creators upload audio-focused content anyway. The website is filled with media that doesn't need a video component, so get a YouTube to MP3 Mac app like iTubeGo to get the audio for offline listening.Easily download and convert YouTube to MP3 with minimal configuration and a single button press. Whatever file format and extra data that comes with the downloaded content is stripped when converted to MP3 audio. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Japan’s Individual Number Card coming to Apple Wallet; first official ID outside US
Japan’s Individual Number Card – also known as My Number Card – is coming to Apple Wallet, a first for official identity documents outside of the US. The country clearly expects residents to take some time to get used to the idea: It’s being announced around a year ahead of its rollout next spring … more…

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iOS 18 Project Greymatter will use AI to summarize notifications, articles and much more
Apple's next-gen operating systems will feature Project Greymatter, bringing a multitude of AI-related enhancements. We have new details on AI features planned for Siri, Notes and Messages.AI will improve several core apps with summarization and transcription featuresFollowing widespread claims and reports about AI-related enhancements in iOS 18, AppleInsider has received additional information about Apple's plans in the area of AI.People familiar with the matter have revealed that the company is internally testing a variety of new AI-related features ahead of its annual WWDC. Known under project codename "Greymatter," the company's AI improvements will focus on practical benefits for the end user. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Thinking about buying an iPhone? Don’t
Macworld This might seem like a good time to buy a new iPhone. Apple’s got boosted trade-in values for the next couple of weeks, and there are plenty of spring carrier deals still going on. Plus rumors about the iPhone 16 coming this fall make it sound like a relatively minor upgrade, while the iPhone 17 late in 2025 seems more like a big overhaul (perhaps even a seismic shift, iPhone X-style). But if you want our advice, we think you should still wait. WWDC is less than 2 weeks away and it’s almost certain to provide critical information that informs your iPhone buying decision. iOS 18 may change more than usual Every year when Apple takes the wraps off its new iOS at WWDC, we learn of a lot of cool new features coming to our iPhones in the fall. But when you read the fine print, you’ll see some of the cool new features don’t work with older iPhones. With iOS 16, for example, you needed a phone with an A12 Bionic processor or newer to use features like lifting subjects from photos, selecting text in images, and most of the locally-processed Siri features. iOS 16 required an iPhone XS or later to use some of its best features. iOS 16 required an iPhone XS or later to use some of its best features.Foundry iOS 16 required an iPhone XS or later to use some of its best features.Foundry Foundry We expect a lot of big changes in iOS 18, including interface improvements and several impressive new features, but the big focus is going to be on AI. Typically, any iPhone made in the last few years will get all the new iOS features, with only the oldest phones missing out. But the push to more AI may change all that, as AI features can have some pretty steep hardware requirements. It’s likely that Apple limits some features to very new models—and possible that the best features will only work on the iPhone 16. And that’s a great reason to wait to buy an iPhone until we know which cool new AI features coming to iOS 18 will work on which iPhones. You don’t want to buy an iPhone 14 or SE only to learn that some really cool feature requires an A16 processor. AI hardware requirements are steep Apple has been shipping AI hardware in its iPhones for years. The Neural Engine first appeared in the A11 Bionic chip, way back in 2017 (iPhone 8 and iPhone X), even though it could “only” perform 600 billion operations per second and didn’t really do much. But it’s gotten a lot more powerful and necessary over the years. It took a big leap to 5 trillion operations per second (TOPS) in the A12. The next big leap was to 11 TOPS in the A14, then over 15 TOPS in A15, and now 35 TOPS in the A17 Pro. But the A17 Pro is only found in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 15 has the A16, whose Neural Engine is only half as fast, according to Apple. The A17 Pro is only in the iPhone 15 Pro models, which means some AI features might not be available on phones less than a year old. The A17 Pro is only in the iPhone 15 Pro models, which means some AI features might not be available on phones less than a year old.Apple The A17 Pro is only in the iPhone 15 Pro models, which means some AI features might not be available on phones less than a year old.Apple Apple Then there’s the matter of RAM. Generative AI models like large language models (LLMs) and diffusion models are notoriously huge and use a lot of RAM. Most iPhones don’t have a lot of RAM to begin with, and you need to have enough left over for applications even when an AI model is being used. Every iPhone that will support iOS 18 up to and including the iPhone 13, has only 4GB of RAM. The iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 14 (regular and Pro), and iPhone 15 have 6GB of RAM. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have 8GB of RAM. So, it’s quite possible that there will be some iOS 18 features that only work on iPhones with a faster Neural Engine or 6GB of RAM, and there may be some that require the iPhone 15 Pro just because it’s got 8GB of RAM and a much faster Neural Engine. If you’re looking to get a new iPhone that will last you a few years, that’s a huge consideration. You may not wish to spend hundreds more on the latest Pro model, but buy a less expensive model today and there’s a good chance you’ll be shut out of the cool new AI features coming this fall. So it’s best to wait until at least WWDC on June 10 when Apple takes the wraps off iOS 18 and all its new features. Then we can dive into the fine print that tells us which iPhones support which features, and you can make an informed choice about how much you need to spend to get the features you want. iPhone

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Dell UltraSharp U2723QE review: Monitor plus dock goes well with your Mac
Macworld At a glance ProsManager softwareGood price-performance ratioMany connectionsWide range of setting optionsConsPlasticky designPorts difficult to accessOur VerdictIf you are looking for a screen for your MacBook or Mac mini, the overall package of the Dell U2723QE is well put together. This monitor is well-equipped, has an excellent picture, and is very bright. Its highlight is the built-in hub that not only brings a total of six USB ports but also an ethernet port. Thanks to the 90-watt charging power, the screen becomes a docking station–and it’s at a nice price. Price When Reviewed$549.99 Best Prices Today: Dell UltraSharp U2723QE Retailer Price $549.97 View Deal $550 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you don’t want to spend the money on an Apple Studio Display, be prepared to search for an alternative. Monitors that are well suited to the Mac and come with the appropriate software are few and far between. However, Dell recognized the need and released the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager for the Mac software. This makes many newer Dell displays viable Mac solutions. One particularly interesting model is the U2723QE: a 27-inch display with a 4K panel, powerful charging function, and plenty of connections. Dell UltraSharp U2723QE: Specifications Size27 inch IPSResolution3840 x 2160 pixelsBrightness/HDR400 nitsResponse time8 msRefresh rate60 HertzColor ranges100% Rec.709, 100% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3Ports2x USB-C PD5x USB-Agigabit ethernetDP-in/DP-out1x HDMIUSB-C upstream (for daisy chain)Power deliveryYes (90 watts) USB-C + (15 watts) USB-CUSB hubYes (5x USB-A, 1x USB-C)AudioLine-outWebcamNoPriceUS$550/UK£506/CA$730/AU$791 Dell UltraSharp U2723QE: Setup Out of the box, the U2723QE requires some assembly. The base that houses a practical cable guide and stand must first be screwed together and then attached to the Vesa connection of the display, which is rounded at the back, reminiscent of older iMacs. This can be done in a minute without tools. With the U2723QE, Dell uses a lot of plastic and the narrow stand doesn’t initially inspire much confidence. However, once assembled, set up, and plugged in, the U2723QE stands very reliably. Nothing wobbles, instead the monitor stands solidly and elegantly on the desk. The stand allows tilting (-5 degrees or +21 degrees), swiveling (±30 degrees), height adjustment by around 16 centimeters (6.3 inches), and pivoting. The height adjustment isn’t particularly smooth, however. It is interesting to note that the screen can be set very low–but be careful, the cables can get in the way here, as they can get caught in the narrow guidehole when adjusting the monitor. They should be pushed in manually when adjusting. The U2723QE connects to the Mac with a USB-C cable. When connected, the monitor charges MacBooks and other laptops with up to 90 watts, enough even for a MacBook Pro. In addition to the charging function and, of course, the transmission of the video signal, the single USB-C cable also connects the display’s hub with six USB ports and gigabit ethernet. This makes the display a complete USB-C docking station for MacBooks and a good extension for the Mac mini or Mac Studio. Two of the USB ports (one USB-A and one USB-C) are located on the bottom edge of the display and are easily accessible. That USB-C port also has a charging function, but at 15 watts it is only suitable for smartphones or other small devices. Another USB-C upstream port on the back is used to connect a second U2723QE in a daisy chain. Connectivity: The Dell U2723QE comes with many ports, including Ethernet. Connectivity: The Dell U2723QE comes with many ports, including Ethernet. Connectivity: The Dell U2723QE comes with many ports, including Ethernet. The ports on the back are hard to reach and not entirely in logical positions. The two connections at the front are also arranged at the bottom, which makes plugging them in from the bottom a gymnastics exercise every time. A side or rear-facing solution like Apple’s would be better here. Also good: The monitor has an internal power supply unit, and the power plug is attached directly to the device. This display does not have speakers. Dell UltraSharp U2723QE: Image quality Dell advertises the U2723QE with “exceptional contrast.” This is made possible by the panel’s IPS Black technology. Indeed, the screen offers an unusually high contrast ratio of 2000:1: black looks like black, and colors are very clearly distinguishable. Thanks to its wide color space support (100 percent Rec.709, 100 percent sRGB, and 98 percent DCI-P3) it is on par with modern Apple LCDs. The maximum brightness of 400 nits, which is lower than the Apple Studio Display’s 600 nits, but it’s sufficient for most people. There were no visible shadows or halos on our test unit. The display offers various pre-calibrated modes, such as for DCI-P3. However, manual calibration is recommended for the optimum setting when editing images. The resolution of the U2723QE is 3840 by 2160 pixels. For full Retina operation (pixel quadrupling like the iMac or MacBook Pro) the display would have to run with a virtual resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, which in practice leads to a “too large” display. It is better to use the QHD equivalent of 2560 by 1440 pixels, which the monitor displays very well, albeit with minimal blurring. This is relativized by the normal viewing distance. Dell UltraSharp U2723QE: Dell Display Manager controls The screen settings can be adjusted using the joystick on the back, or directly from the Mac desktop using the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager software. Here you can quickly adjust the brightness and contrast. There is also the option of defining a schedule for changing the brightness or contrast. If required, users can also define hotkeys for brightness and contrast control. Unfortunately, there is no synchronized control with the MacBook’s internal display, as is possible with Lunar. However, the Dell Display Manager also includes control of the KVM function. If required, software can be installed for this purpose, which means that in addition to the monitor, wired keyboards and mice can also be quickly switched between two connected end devices such as a MacBook and a desktop PC. The screen allows application windows to be quickly arranged in any grid using Easy Arrange. There is also a PowerNap mode, which saves power when a screen saver is active by dimming the monitor or switching it off while the saver is running. Dell webcams can also be controlled via the software, and firmware updates also find their way to the monitor with the Display Manager. In short, the Display Manager makes life with Dell monitors much easier and is a good argument in favor of monitors from this manufacturer. One major issue that was confounding is that the software works on the MacBook, Mac mini, and Mac Pro, but not on the iMac–this is specifically called out by Dell. The iMac already has a large 24-inch display, but you can still use the U2723QE with it, but you can’t use the Dell Display Manager software with the Dell display. The software only supports devices running macOS 11 or later, and 2018 Mac or later; users with such devices should check whether the software can be installed before purchasing. Should you buy the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE? If you are looking for a screen for your MacBook or Mac mini, the overall package of the Dell U2723QE is well put together. This monitor is well-equipped, has an excellent picture, and is very bright. Its highlight is the built-in hub that not only brings a total of six USB ports but also an ethernet port. Thanks to the 90-watt charging power, the screen becomes a docking station–and the price is right, especially when compared to Apple’s offerings This article originally appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola. Mac, Monitors

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First alternative to Apple Wallet is ready to launch in EU
The UK firm Curve claims it will be the first complete Apple Wallet alternative once Apple fully complies with the EU's requirement to allow rivals use of its iPhone NFC technology.Apple could have to make additional changes to its NFC APIsAlongside the law changes that meant Apple had to allow rival iPhone App Stores in the EU, the region's Digital Markets Act also saw the company forced to support rival contactless payment systems. Apple is in the process or adding APIs to allow rivals to utilize NFC in their banking and wallet apps.According to The Times, Apple is still finalizing technical details. Once that's done, UK-based firm Curve says it will be able to immediately launch its rival Wallet. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Code references hint at increased smart home device, Matter support in iOS 17.6 update
If you love controlling home accessories via your iPhone, you’re going to like Apple’s upcoming iOS 17.6 update. After examining a recent public code repository, the discovery of implementation source code for Matter, an Apple-backed smart home standard has been found. Matter is also open source, hence its public-facing code repository. The changes reference new […] Source

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Details begin to surface as to Apple’s AI approach and confidential computing techniques
Apple may have found a way to process AI data while retaining a measure of user privacy. While the company will use WWDC to unveil its AI strategy within its operating systems, The Information has cited a method that Apple intends to employ confidential computing techniques, which will enable “black box processing”. Typically, cloud services […] Source

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How to recover deleted notes in the Notes app
Macworld You may use the Notes app as a catchall for all kinds of scraps of thoughts, lists, long entries, shared financial details with family members, and much more. Apple lets you sync note entries across all your iCloud-linked devices to give you the broadest access to them. However, having access in more places can also make it easier to delete a note accidentally or not consider that it will be deleted everywhere. Or, you may have removed an entry and want to recover it. Here’s how to find recently deleted notes, and make a last-ditch effort using Time Machine for older lost ones. How to recover a deleted note As in most of Apple’s library-based apps, Notes offers a Recently Deleted folder that acts as a “you may change your mind” holding area for about 30 days. When you delete an item, it winds up in this folder. You may not use folders in Notes routinely. Here’s how to find them: In macOS, click the sidebar icon on the far left of the toolbar of choose View > Show Folders. In iOS or iPadOS, tap in the upper-left corner of Notes until you see Folders. At iCloud.com, the folders list always shows at less. The Recently Deleted folder holds removed items for 30 days or so. The Recently Deleted folder holds removed items for 30 days or so.Foundry The Recently Deleted folder holds removed items for 30 days or so.Foundry Foundry (I found a bug in testing: deleting a note from my Mac resulted in showing up in Recently Deleted on that Mac and at iCloud.com, but not in Notes for iOS. Deleting an entry in iOS revealed the Recently Deleted folder, which shows the note I had removed in macOS.) Apple has never fully sorted out the interface for Notes, particularly across its platforms, so there’s no single way to recover a deleted note in all versions. Here’s how you can recover a note: In macOS, iOS, or iPadOS, the easiest way is to try to edit the note, at which point you’re prompted to Cancel or Recover. Click or tap Recover. You can also Control-click/right-click a note in macOS and choose Move or swipe left in iOS/iPadOS and tap the folder icon to move it to another location in Notes. At iCloud.com, select the note and click Recover. Whichever method you choose recovers the note across all your iCloud-linked devices. How to delete a note permanently Conversely, if you want the entry to go away forever: In macOS, select the note and press Delete, select the note and click the trash can icon, or Control-click/right-click the entry. In iOS/iPadOS, swipe left and tap the trash can icon, or select the note and tap the trash can icon at the bottom-left corner of the view. At iCloud.com, select the note and click the trash can icon in the upper-right corner of the window. You can intentionally delete a note permanently, but it requires extra steps, which include this warning. You can intentionally delete a note permanently, but it requires extra steps, which include this warning.Foundry You can intentionally delete a note permanently, but it requires extra steps, which include this warning.Foundry Foundry You’re prompted when you try to delete a note from Recently Deleted with a warning about that erasure becoming permanent. Recover a note via Time Machine Notes are backed up by Time Machine, and if you are trying to retrieve a note after 30 days or so and it’s no longer in the Recently Deleted folder, you can try to roll back to an early set of entries on your Mac. This is dangerous in that it will be trivial to overwrite all your current notes, and Notes offers no export library option that you can use to re-import current notes. Please proceed only if you’re trying to recover critical data and have no other recourse. I’d recommend reading this Make Use Of advice on creating backups of Notes before proceeding in case these steps fail for you. Follow these steps carefully: Quit Notes. In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder. Enter ~/Library/Group Containers/ and press return. In the resulting folder, you’ll find group.com.apple.notes. Select it and Option-drag it to the Desktop to make a backup copy. Via the Time Machine menu, choose Browse Time Machine Backups. This will reveal backups for that Group Containers folder. Scroll back in time to find a point before which you believe you deleted the note. Select group.com.apple.notes and click Restore. When the process is complete, launch Notes. If you’re lucky, the note will be restored. Copy it elsewhere, then: Quit Notes. Delete the group.com.apple.notes folder you restored into Group Containers. Drag back in group.com.apple.notes from the Desktop. Launch Notes. You should be back at the previous Notes state. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Carol. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. Mac, MacOS

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