Apple threatened to remove xAI’s Grok from its App Store over sexualized deepfakes
In early 2026, Elon Musk’s xAI faced intense backlash after its Grok chatbot was used to generate non-consensual sexualized deepfakes… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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This Anker charger is the ultimate travel companion and it’s 27% off
Macworld Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station View Deal (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); Do you know what makes a 3-in-1 charging station even better? When it’s super easy to take it with you on vacation or simply from room to room. The Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charging station is exactly like that, and it’s only $80 right now, following a 27 percent discount. Built for convenience, this device can simultaneously charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. It has a foldable design with two charging pads and a floating unit for your Apple Watch. The top pad can be raised to a perfect 65-degree angle, so you can continue scrolling on your phone while it’s charging, and while this happens, you can just use the bottom pad for your AirPods. Weighing just 69 ounces and folding down to the size of a deck of cards, you can take this charging station with you anywhere you go. That’s particularly useful to have, considering you can use it on your desk, move it to your nightstand, and take it with you when you travel. Upgrade your daily charging routine with this 27 percent off Anker MagGo 3-in-1 station.

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Adobe announces Firefly AI Assistant as it expands into agentic AI tools
Adobe is doubling down on artificial intelligence with a new tool designed to help users create and edit projects across multiple Adobe products.Adobe Creative Cloud logoAdobe's Firefly AI Assistant is agentic, meaning it can perform complex tasks and make decisions on its own. Instead of requiring continual guidance, agentic AI works independently to achieve a goal set by the user.So, essentially, you'll tell the assistant what you want, and the assistant will take the steps to make that happen. According to Adobe, it will be able to execute "complex, multi-step workflows across Adobe's Creative Cloud apps including Firefly, Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom, Express, Illustrator and more." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Turn any wall into a movie screen with this $67 portable projector
A Mac-friendly entertainment upgrade at $67.99, the Ion Audio portable HD projector is more about convenience than perfection. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple execs talk biggest flops, MacBook Neo, more in new interview
We’re one month removed from the launch of MacBook Neo, and all indications are that it’s been a hit for Apple. In a new interview with Tom’s Guide published today, Apple executives John Ternus and Greg Joswiak talked more about MacBook Neo, Apple’s biggest “flops,” and more. more…

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Apple at 50: Spatial computing is the future, but when is the question
In tantalizingly brief comments, Apple's Greg Joswiak and CEO heir apparent John Ternus have come closer to discussing the future of Apple Vision Pro than ever before.Apple Vision Pro review: stuck in placeAnalysts have called the Apple Vision Pro a rare failure, even if Apple sold $157 million worth in the Christmas 2025 quarter. Then there have also been accusations of Apple's penny-pinching means Apple Store demos failed to convert into sales.That's all subjective, but it does seem that more than two years in, Apple hasn't decided what to do with the Apple Vision Pro. But in a new interview with Tom's Guide, the only thing Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing Greg Joswiak is unsure about is when its spatial computing will take off. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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If Tim Cook put Apple users ahead of his Elon Musk grudge, Apple users would have superior satellite connectivity and better AI today
Amazon’s $11.6 billion takeover of Globalstar is poised to benefit one of its biggest hardware rivals: Apple… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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3 ways to give your old iPhone a performance boost
If your older iPhone runs more slowly than it used to, there are straightforward fixes. You can speed up your iPhone with some simple steps. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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iPad Air with OLED now expected to have an early 2027 launch
The long-discussed iPad Air will make its move to OLED in early 2027, with display panel mass production expected to start at the end of 2026.Apple's iPad Air with M4, without OLEDApple started to embrace OLED as a display technology with the iPad Pro, following after the smaller-scale display in the Apple Watch. However, while there has been some debate over when other models will get the same treatment, a report insists that it will be happening as soon as 2027 for one model.Multiple industry sources claim Samsung Display will start mass production of OLED panels for the iPad Air around the end of 2026, claims Wednesday's report from ETNews. This will be before the end of the year, with a chance it could slip into January 2027. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Adobe’s new Firefly AI Assistant will handle multi-step tasks across Creative Cloud apps
Available in public beta soon, Adobe Firefly AI Assistant will take a user’s prompt and then orchestrate multi-step workflows across multiple Creative Cloud apps. Here are the details. more…

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Netgear can now sell new wireless routers in the US but nobody knows why
Last month saw a surprise ban on almost every new wireless router intended for use in US homes. The FCC ruling described all foreign-made routers as a national security risk. The FCC offered a pathway to approval, and today Netgear has received that – but nobody knows why. Not even Netgear itself was able to offer an explanation … more…

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OLED iPad Air reportedly set for launch early next year
As Apple continues its gradual replacement of IPS LCD screens with OLED, it’s been unclear exactly when the iPad Air would join the party. Early reports suggested it might happen this year, while subsequent ones pointed to 2027 or later. A new supply chain report says that production plans are now in place and we can expect to see the shiny new model launched in the spring of next year, potentially as early as March … more…

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iPad Air’s OLED display won’t match iPad Pro
Samsung Display will purportedly begin mass production of OLED panels for the next iPad Air in early 2027. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Hackers Are Using Emojis to Hide in Plain Sight
Threat actors are using emojis as a form of visual shorthand to signal intent, evade detection, and coordinate activity across digital communications. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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36M Xfinity customers had their data exposed – here’s how to claim your payout
Back in 2023, hackers accessed the personal data of 36 million Xfinity customers. Comcast said at the time that the data exposed included names, contact details, and dates of birth. A class action lawsuit followed, and a $117.5 million settlement has now been reached … more…

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Freecash app scammed users and the App Store for months before removal
An app called Freecash promised to pay users for scrolling through TikTok, and got by App Store review despite really tricking them to play paid games while also harvesting sensitive personal data to sell.Every new app goes though a review process, but Freecash got throughAt least the fake Ledger Live had a believable name, albeit copied from a genuine cryptocurrency app. In comparison, "Freecash" went all-in on the money-for-nothing idea that should have warned users that there was a problem.According to Malwarebytes, it did anything but. Until it was removed, Freecash reached the top five chart on the App Store in January 2026 and stayed there almost every day afterwards. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Shipment For Apple Mac Increases
Shipment for Macs at Apple increased by 9% in the first quarter of this year. The growth has beaten the general PC market in pace with their 2.5% growth due to the M5 MacBook Pro and the revamped MacBook Air. Apple was 4th in global PC vendors, with shipping of Macs reaching up to 6.2 […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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The Galaxy S26 Ultra is better than the iPhone. Here’s why it still can’t win
Macworld For years, premium smartphone makers have been trying to compete with Apple’s iPhone dominance with better cameras, larger screens, and exclusive features. Few have done more than the iPhone’s main rival, Samsung, which consistently makes flagship phones that have better specs and bigger batteries than Apple’s latest lineup. Case in point: The Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone. The S26 Ultra isn’t exactly a major upgrade over last year’s model, but it still has enough interesting new features to entice buyers, upgraders, and switchers. But like most iPhone generations, it’s still not enough to beat the iPhone. A genuinely great Android flagship I’m not going to waste your time with a full S26 Ultra review. You can read that elsewhere if you want. All you need to know is that the S26 Ultra is absolutely a flagship smartphone. If you’re into Android, it’s probably the best you can get on the market today. The S26 Ultra has a massive 6.9-inch display, just like the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Samsung’s flagship feels just as premium as an iPhone, since both are made of glass and aluminum. However, the Galaxy is much lighter and thinner, which is something I really like. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is every bit as good as an iPhone.Foundry The notion that Android smartphones are too slow is also a thing of the past, at least when it comes to flagship models. The S26 Ultra is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with 12GB of RAM. Benchmark tests show that this chip is quite comparable to Apple’s A19 Pro. While benchmark tests don’t necessarily reflect real-world performance, my experience with the S26 Ultra has been quite good. Everything feels smooth, and I’ve yet to see this phone slow down, whether I’m editing RAW photos or playing games. Privacy Display: Apple magic on Android All of that may be impressive, but we’re not talking about anything truly new. However, Samsung had a trick up its sleeve for the S26 Ultra that you won’t find on any iPhone. The S26 Ultra introduces a new display technology that takes away the need to apply a privacy screen protector, making it harder for people next to you to see what’s on the screen. If you can believe it, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen is on in this pic. You just can’t see it from this angle.Foundry Essentially, the technology works at the hardware level. The display has both narrow-angle and wide-angle pixels to show the full image. When Privacy Display is turned on, the wide-angle pixels are turned off, and only the narrow-angle pixels are used, which focuses the light in a straight line. The result is that you have to look directly at the screen to see the content, while people next to you will see a much darker screen. Some may question the usefulness of this feature, since there are cheap screen protectors that offer similar functionality. But Privacy Display is superior for a number of reasons. For one, most people won’t bother to use one. And the people who do are stuck with a permanent film on their display, with no way to turn it on and off as needed.  With Privacy Display on the S26 Ultra, you can do exactly that. For example, I can set Privacy Display to turn on automatically when I open a specific app, such as my banking app or 1Password, and can even be set to hide only specific parts of the screen, such as notification banners. Samsung’s Privacy Display hides your screen from prying eyes while the iPhone lets anyone see it.Foundry Yes, the feature does come with some trade-offs. You’ll definitely notice the lower resolution when Privacy Display is turned on. But it’s something I’m totally okay with in exchange for better privacy in certain situations. And when the feature isn’t in use, I can still benefit from the full resolution and brightness the display has to offer.  I’ve gotten so used to turning on Privacy Display when I’m at the gym or on the bus that I immediately miss it when I go back to using my iPhone. It’s the kind of feature I’ve come to expect from Apple, but it’s only on the S26. Mind-blowing battery life Another aspect of the S26 Ultra that really caught my attention is its battery life. Samsung’s smartphone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. That’s pretty much the same battery capacity as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, there’s a huge difference between the two. In my tests, the S26 Ultra lasts significantly longer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. In one of the tests, I unplugged both phones at the same time (around noon) and tried using them with the same apps and wireless networks. By around 10 p.m., my iPhone had 43 percent battery remaining, while the Galaxy had 69 percent. That’s a big gap. Here, I believe Apple could be doing a better job of optimizing iOS for lower power consumption, which has been a point of criticism since the introduction of iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface, which requires significantly more hardware resources to render all the effects. More and better cameras When it comes to cameras, the S26 Ultra doesn’t disappoint either, with four rear lenses compared to the iPhone 17 Pro’s three. The main camera boasts an incredible 200 megapixels, while the phone also features a 50MP 5x zoom lens and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. I also appreciate that Samsung has kept a 10MP 3x zoom lens as well. Both the Galaxy S26 Ultra, left, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max did an admirable job with capturing the color and clarity of this flower. I could spend a lot of time writing about the technical details of the cameras, but here’s the thing. They’re really good, especially for photos. Most of the pictures I’ve taken look just as good or even better than the ones from my iPhone, especially when it comes to zoom range. Samsung’s image post-processing seems less aggressive than Apple’s, which tends to make images overly sharp in certain lighting conditions. When it comes to videos, I still prefer the iPhone, but Samsung has done a great job with its Horizontal Lock feature, which keeps the video steady and at the same angle even if you turn the phone upside down. It’s pretty impressive and useful for action videos. You can clearly see how much more detailed Samsung’s zoom camera (left) is compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The stylus is a nice convenience Finally, there’s the S Pen, the stylus that comes included with the S26 Ultra. This has been a key feature of Samsung’s flagship smartphones for a few years now, and while I think the S Pen is a gimmick, it’s a nice one. I don’t really miss having a stylus to use with my iPhone, but having one on the S26 Ultra is certainly useful every now and then to write quick notes instead of typing on the on-screen keyboard. It feels like I’m writing in a small notepad. You can store the S Pen inside the phone itself when it’s not in use, which is quite convenient. I know Steve Jobs famously disapproved of a stylus, but a tiny Apple Pencil on board Apple’s biggest phone wouldn’t be a terrible thing. I wouldn’t mind a tiny Apple Pencil on board my iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it’s not necessary.Foundry It’s tempting, but I’m not leaving the iPhone Okay, I’ve said a lot of good things about the Galaxy S26 Ultra. So why don’t I switch from the iPhone? While Apple and Google have made switching from iOS to Android (and vice versa) easier than ever, it’s still a difficult proposition. But even if I could snap my fingers and replace my iPhone with an S26, I still wouldn’t. Apple has a robust ecosystem of products and services today. Along with my iPhone, I also have an Apple Watch, AirPods, a Mac, an Apple TV, and the list goes on. Plus, I subscribe to Apple One, and my entire life is on iCloud, not to mention my purchases from the App Store. I trust that’s the case for millions of iPhone users. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, right, is every bit as premium as an iPhone 17 Pro Max.Foundry But more than the devices and apps, Apple’s ecosystem makes everything just work. I can shoot videos on my iPhone, and they immediately show up on my Mac. Then I can edit them on my computer and send them back to my iPhone with just a click using AirDrop. There are many features that have become essential to my workflow, such as iPhone Mirroring, Handoff, and Universal Copy and Paste. Some of these are available in Galaxy land, but none of them work as seamlessly as they do on the iPhone. But even if I just owned an iPhone, it would still be hard to leave Apple’s garden. Using both phones helped me appreciate how iOS apps look more polished than their Android counterparts, even after all these years. On top of that, iOS has a lot of great, exclusive apps that I love, such as Halide and Flighty. I really miss those apps when I’m using the S26 Ultra. It’s safe to say that developers put more effort into developing apps for iOS. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is an excellent smartphone, with some specs that even outshine the iPhone. But the Apple experience and integrated ecosystem can’t be beat, and that means much more than some fancy pixels.

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Developer Integrates Mac OS X Cheetah for the Nintendo Wii
A curious developer named Bryan Keller dove into the idea of whether an older version of the operating system for the Mac was capable of being run on a Nintendo Wii. This comes after a gaming device got a ported Windows NT. The developer gave it a try, and he was able to integrate Mac […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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New Subscription Added by OpenAI
A new subscription tier has been added by OpenAI to support Codex use. OpenAI has a coding agent built into ChatGPT named Codex, rivaling Claude Code Anthropic. The subscription is priced at $100, giving the user more usage for Codex compared to other subscriptions. The company also states that it is optimal for high-effort and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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