Dwindling M1 Air stock points to imminent release of a budget MacBook
Macworld Apple’s long-rumored cheap MacBook appears to have come a step closer to launch, with the discovery that Walmart has stopped selling new units of the low-cost M1 MacBook Air. As first reported by PC Mag, searching for the late-2020 machine on the U.S. site with the “new” filter checked brings up three buying options: the 256GB in Space Gray or gold, and a listing for the 512GB model, which hasn’t been available since 2024. All three now show as out of stock for shipping, and the reporter was able to find just one store in his local area with units for pickup. I had a similar experience. I’m out of luck, and they’re out of stock.David Price / Foundry (As a side note, I’ve been unable to find new units of the M1 Air in any other stores close to me, including Amazon. If you check the price-comparison table below, you’ll see if there are any in your location. If the table isn’t showing up at all, that means you’re out of luck, too.) Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It isn’t clear how long Walmart has been short of stock for this machine, but we know it was on sale for the bargain price of $549 as recently as mid-December. As it’s unlikely that Walmart just happened to run out of stock after two years, it seems Apple and Walmart have decided to wind down sales. While the decision could be related to cost-cutting measures due to memory prices ballooning, this timing adds credence to the rumors of a cheap MacBook expected within the next two weeks. Apple recently announced global “experiences” on March 4, and it’s widely rumored that it will announce a series of new entries in its iPhone, iPad, and MacBook lines in the days leading up to that. Rumors about the new MacBook claim it will use an A18 Pro iPhone chip and cost around $699, both reasons to stop selling these M1 models. Whatever the truth, we should find out soon. You can keep up with all the latest news and rumors with our regularly updated budget MacBook superguide.

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macOS 26.3 references two new Studio Display models, per report
New references uncovered in macOS 26.3 reveal multiple new Apple hardware products coming soon. Ahead of Apple’s March 4 special “experience,” there are new references to two new Studio Display models as well as the oft-rumored low-cost MacBook powered by the A18 Pro chip. more…

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Apple has its problems, but still the only real choice for privacy
Apple didn't start out as the privacy company, but in the more than 12 years since iPhone 5s, it is the only company trying to offer privacy by default. Today, that's more necessary than ever.Apple's promise of privacy and security can't be ignored in today's political climateYou would think that after years of success with "Privacy, that's iPhone," other smartphone and computer manufacturers would catch on. Nope.No matter how much consumers vote with their wallets, everyone that isn't Apple aims for the idea of revenue through data collection. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Two new Apple Studio Displays could gatecrash March MacBook announcements
References to two new Apple Studio Display models have been found in macOS 26.3 code, stacking up more potential product announcements before the May 4 Apple "Experience."Apple could be set to announce not one, but two new displays.Apple has confirmed that it will hold a special event on March 4, with rumors suggesting it could follow a week of announcements. A low-cost MacBook is expected to be the star of the show.Now, references to codenames J427 and J527 have been found in the macOS 26.3 update. Those codenames match a report from September 2025 that pegged both products as being Apple Studio Displays. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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March 4's Apple Experience, color MacBooks, and iOS 26.4 on the AppleInsider Podcast
It's been a week of finding out just how much there is in the new iOS 26.4 beta, for learning about Apple's video podcast plans, and also for so many rumors of a new low-cost MacBook coming at a March unveiling, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.Apple's March 4 experience (left) may introduce new features, but iOS 26.4 already hasWe didn't get an updated Siri in the developer beta of iOS 26.4, but it turned out that there is a lot else in there. From improvements to Stolen Device Protection and a whole new Apple Intelligence-based twist on Apple Music, there is much to explore in iOS 26.4.Just don't explore it until it's been officially released. Neither of your hosts recommend installing any beta software, neither of them intended to install iOS 26.4, and only one of them did accidentally. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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The retro iPod that never was
Macworld Apple is known for being secretive about what goes on inside its offices, whether it’s about upcoming products or things from the past. Still, from time to time, we get a glimpse into internal projects that were never meant to see the light of day. What if we told you that Apple once considered launching a “retro iPod”? Thanks to newly published material by former Apple designer Jon Stoa, we now have a fascinating glimpse into never-before-seen marketing concepts. They not only show scrapped plans for the 2007 iPhone launch, but also concepts for what would have been a special edition iPod classic. An iPod inspired by the 1984 Macintosh On his resume webpage, which includes several images for ads, packaging elements, and marketing images created while working at Apple, Stoa shares some of the unreleased projects he worked on at Apple between 2006 and 2008. The most intriguing is the concept for a limited edition “retro iPod,” which would be designed to look like it came straight out of 1984. The idea was heavily based on a growing trend of nostalgia, even 20 years ago. The material imagines an iPod based on the design of the original Macintosh with a beige finish, classic typography, and the rainbow Apple logo on the back. He writes that the device “would draw from both the present and the past to make a statement about the role of Apple and the iPod in culture, both now and then.” Apple proposed a series of names for its retro “1984” iPod.Jon Stoa Suggested names included iPod retro, iPod rewind, iPod beta, and iPod backspace, all rendered in Apple Garamond, the typography used in Apple’s marketing materials at the time. The concept went far beyond a vintage design. The marketing material proposed preloading the iPod with some music videos from the 1980s and even classic arcade games such as Pac-Man. Distribution would have been limited, with the retro iPod only available at Apple Stores and selected boutique partners. There’s no evidence Apple ever developed prototypes for the retro iPod. The materials appear to be unused design and marketing explorations rather than a cancelled product. Still, the fact that someone inside Apple considered making a vintage edition of the iPod (which was at its peak in 2006) is fascinating. A retro iPod is unlikely to happen now, but it would make an intriguing device.Jon Stoa Could a retro iPod happen in 2026? Apple officially killed the iPod brand in 2022 when it discontinued the iPod touch, but the more classic iPod nano and iPod shuffle disappeared years earlier. Even so, some people are still calling for the return of the iPod in some form. Some fans would instantly buy an iPod classic, while others would like a reimagined version of the iPod that blends today’s technologies with the essence of the original iPod. If Apple were to revisit the idea today, it likely wouldn’t be a straight reissue. Instead, we could imagine a compact device the size of the iPod classic, but built with today’s materials and components. A modern OLED or mini-LED display, haptic feedback to simulate the tactile feel of the Click Wheel, expanded storage options, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and deep integration with Apple Music. Whether Apple would embrace this idea of looking back at its hardware is another question. The company typically prefers to move forward and rarely celebrates milestones such as product anniversaries. But it’s hard to imagine a limited-edition device like this not selling out instantly. The Apple Store cube on 5th Avenue in New York City could have had a light projection show ahead of the iPhone’s launch.Jon Stoa The canceled iPhone event Stoa’s material also sheds light on Apple’s pre-launch strategy for the original iPhone. According to the documents, Apple had considered hosting another press event on June 26, 2007, just three days before the iPhone officially went on sale. The event was to be held at The California Theatre in San Jose. Attendees would have received an iPhone-shaped gift card to spend on the iTunes Store. However, the event never happened. By that point, Apple had already revealed the iPhone in January and provided significant updates during WWDC 2007 in June. A third event may have felt redundant or strategically unnecessary. Stoa’s site also shows a unique light projection on Apple’s 5th Avenue cube The iPhone proably didn’t need any extra promotion in 2007.Jon Stoa Still, thanks to Stoa, we can now take a look at all the banners, emails, and other marketing materials created for this iPhone pre-launch. The theater lobby would have multiple posters highlighting key iPhone technologies such as the multi-touch display, accelerometer, wireless connectivity, Visual Voicemail, proximity sensor, and OS X. (Yes, Apple used to call the iPhone’s operating system OS X before naming it iPhone OS and then iOS.) Taken together, these materials offer a rare look at Apple’s parallel universe with products and events that almost happened. They also serve as a reminder that even a company as big and successful as Apple explores many ideas that may never reach the public. And sometimes, those unseen ideas are just as fascinating as the products that made it to store shelves.

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Inside macOS 26 Preview – how to get the most out of an unexpectely powerful free tool
Preview can do more than just show you a file in macOS, as it is especially handy for annotating images and editing PDFs. Here's everything you need to know about Preview in macOS 26 Tahoe.Preview in macOS 26 TahoePreview is one of the long-standing apps on macOS, having been included with the operating system for decades. In 2025, Preview finally moved over to iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, with a version tailored for mobile devices.It is also a severely underrated app, as it is chiefly used as a way to view images and PDFs on the Mac. It's a lightweight viewer that saves you from needing to open other heavier applications, like Photoshop or Adobe Acrobat. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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macOS 26.3 might have just confirmed Apple’s biggest March 4 surprises
Macworld As we have extensively covered, Apple is rumored to soon introduce new products, as the company recently confirmed a special announcement for March 4. Among the expected products are a low-cost MacBook and a new generation of Studio Display. If you needed more evidence that these products will soon be arriving in stores, here’s proof from Apple itself. Code from macOS 26.3, released last week to the public, confirms the existence of such devices. As discovered by Macworld, the final build of macOS 26.3 released to the public on February 11 includes kernel extensions (kexts) for three new devices identified as J700, J427, and J527. The codenames match previous reports, including those based on an internal build of iOS 26 leaked last year. Low-cost MacBook essentially confirmed J700 is the codename for the rumored new low-cost MacBook. This Mac is expected to be priced lower than the current MacBook Air, and will be the first Apple silicon Mac to be powered by an A-series chip instead of an M-series one. More specifically, the new entry-level MacBook will reportedly have the same A18 Pro chip as the iPhone 16 Pro models. Benchmark tests show that the A18 Pro performs slightly better than the M1, which is good enough for most casual users who will be the target audience for this new laptop. More recently, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the laptop will have a display that’s slightly under 13 inches and will be made of aluminum, despite its lower price. Some analysts believe it will cost as low as $599, but a price between $699 and $799 is more likely. Apple’s Studio Display is nearly four years old and in need of an update.Foundry Studio Display 2 may have an extra surprise In addition to the highly anticipated MacBook, macOS 26.3 includes drivers for two other unreleased devices: J427 and J527, both variants of a new generation of Studio Display. As Macworld previously reported, an internal build of iOS 26 revealed that Studio Display 2 is expected to have significant improvements, including ProMotion with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. The new display is also expected to have an A19 chip inside to handle smart features such as Spatial Audio and webcam image processing. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect here is the existence of not one, but two new displays. The differences between the two models are unclear, but the two most likely scenarios are either a larger screen size option, or a lower-end version with fewer features   What about other Macs? Based on the latest rumors, Apple has also been working on new MacBook Pro models with higher-end versions of the M5 chip and a MacBook Air refresh, as well as a new generation of Mac Studio. However, these models are not referenced in macOS 26.3. This doesn’t mean they won’t be released next month, as Apple could simply roll out a new 26.3.1 build specifically for these machines. Still, the fact that macOS 26.3 supports at least the new MacBook and Studio Display strongly suggests that these products will arrive sooner than later.

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This 3-day sale on 10TB of storage can end your cloud anxiety
Macworld TL;DR: Internxt’s 10TB lifetime plan replaces recurring storage subscriptions with private, encrypted cloud space you own forever for just $249.97 — but the sale ends Feb. 22. Most people don’t realize they’re paying for a subscription just to be able to revisit their own life. Photos, videos, documents — they pile up until your phone hits the dreaded storage warning. Then begins the cycle: upgrade your plan, promise it’s the last time, repeat next year. This Internxt 10TB lifetime cloud storage deal ($249.97, MSRP $2,900) is basically an exit ramp from that hamster wheel — and it’s only available through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Instead of renting space, you own it. Permanently. Internxt focuses on privacy-first storage: files are split and end-to-end encrypted with a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning not even the company can read them. It’s open-source, audited, and designed so your data stays yours — across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and browsers. And 10TB is a lot. Think entire photo libraries, phone backups, creative projects, and years of videos without constant cleanup sessions. The real value isn’t just capacity — it’s predictability. Pay once, upload freely, and move on with your digital life. Enjoy 10TB of Internxt cloud storage for life with one $249.97 payment. Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB PlanSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Opera made an adorably quirky website to celebrate its browser’s 30th anniversary
From the dial-up days to the era of AI-assisted browsing, Opera’s interactive experience takes users through key milestones that helped shape the web over the past three decades. more…

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Brazil banks want 'free ride' access to iPhone NFC payments, says Apple
Regulatory bodies around the globe are asking if Apple has a right to charge for access to the popular platforms built around iPhone. Apple keeps telling them yes — this time in Brazil.Apple charges for access to iPhone NFC for paymentsThe Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) in Brazil has been pursuing Apple on antitrust claims surrounding the App Store. The result was alternative app stores and external payment methods coming to Brazil, but now Apple's NFC rules are under fire.According to a report from O Globo, first shared by 9to5Mac, Apple says third parties like banks and payment service providers want "free ride" access to Apple's proprietary technologies. In this case, Apple is referring to the NFC payment platform offered by iPhone. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple accuses Brazilian banks of seeking a ‘free ride’ in NFC probe
In a recent statement to Brazil’s competition watchdog, Apple leaned on an increasingly familiar argument as it pushed back against pressure to further open up the iPhone’s NFC access. Here are the details. more…

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GameSir G8 Plus review: an iterative upgrade fit for iPad mini fans
The first GameSir G8 was an affordable return to iPhone grip controllers, and while its successor doesn't have any significant bells or whistles, it gains Apple certification and iPad mini support.GameSir G8 Plus reviewNot every product needs to blow us away with some revolutionary new feature or concept. Game controllers have found a fairly mature place, design-wise, so there's no need to rock the boat.The GameSir G8 Plus is an MFi-certified controller with a USB-C connector, rumble support, programmable buttons, and customization options. It closely resembles the GameSir G8 Galileo that it replaces, but it has some notable improvements. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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PageMaker Creator Paul Brainerd Dies at 78
Paul Brainerd, whose PageMaker revolutionized desktop publishing in the 1980s, died at 78. His software gave millions the power to create professionally printed pages, and he also left a lasting legacy in environmental philanthropy.

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Leaker's legal troubles haven't ended, as he makes more videos
After a default ruling against him for failing to respond, YouTuber Jon Prosser is now facing a jury trial and deposition over his iOS 26 leaks.YouTuber Jon Prosser is set to be deposed, as part of a lawsuit filed against him by Apple.In July 2025, after revealing design details of what was then known as iOS 19, leaker Jon Prosser was sued by Apple for the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets. Things seemingly haven't gone well so far, even as he continues to post videos about Apple rumors.Prosser has been served with document and deposition subpoenas. He'll have to provide sworn, out-of-court testimony so that Apple can determine the scope of the confidential information Prosser obtained and shared. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Check out Apple’s new CarPlay video feature in iOS 26.4
Apple announced plans to enable CarPlay users to stream and watch videos via AirPlay-compatible apps on their vehicle's display… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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9to5Mac Daily: February 19, 2026 – New CarPlay features, more
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by Stuff: Stuff helps you get everything out of your head and into a simple, elegant system—closing open loops and reducing mental stress. Use code 9TO5 at checkout for 50% off your first year. more…

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Apple and Jon Prosser coordinating deposition in iOS 26 leak case
In a joint status report with Michael Ramacciotti’s legal team, Apple also disclosed new details about its efforts to depose Jon Prosser as part of the iOS 26 leak case. Here are the details. more…

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Apple TV F1, MLS, MLB streaming reach expands to bars & restaurants
A new partnership with EverPass will put Apple TV's growing slate of live sports on screens in bars, restaurants, and other commercial spaces.Apple TV sports reach expands with EverPass dealEverPass Media, a company that provides live sports content to commercial establishments, has announced a new partnership with Apple TV. The partnership will bring Formula 1, Major League Soccer, and Major League Baseball to EverPass Core customers at no additional cost."We are excited to partner with Apple and bring its premier content to EverPass, enhancing our ability to deliver must-have live sports to commercial audiences. Alex Kaplan, CEO of EverPass Media, said in a press release. "From the continued growth of MLS and the enduring pull of MLB to Formula 1's rapidly expanding global fanbase, Apple's content strengthens and diversifies our library of premium offerings." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite proves lifesaver for six skiers buried in Lake Tahoe avalanche
In a dramatic testament to Apple's innovative satellite technology, six skiers survived a harrowing avalanche near Lake Tahoe thanks to the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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