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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The AirPods Max 2 is $19 Off
The new AirPods Max places sound all around you with personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking made for your special ear shape to give you an immersive listening experience. The design features a knit-mesh canopy, custom textile ear cushions with memory foam for comfortable wear. Block out 1.5x more noise with better Active Noise […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Dynamic Island Design Undecided
Apple is reportedly choosing two options for this year’s iPhone 18 Pro models with Dynamic Island; they are rumored to be undecided on the matter. A report made rounds that suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro would have a smaller Dynamic Island compared to last year’s model. Other leakers say that the rear design of […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Three Apple Stores In The United States To Close Permanently in a Few Months
In an announcement today, Apple will be closing three Apple Stores in the United States for good in June. The stores are going to be the Apple Towson Town Center in Maryland, Towson, Apple North Country in California, Escondido, and Apple Trumbull in Connecticut. The stores mentioned are found in shopping malls that are struggling […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Parts For Products Announced Last Month Now Available
Apple is now selling parts for the 7 new devices that they have announced during March via the Apple self-service repair program. The program enables customers to get their hands on real manuals, parts, and tools to DIY repair their device. The 7 devices are the iPad Air with M4 chip, Studio Display XDR, the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Smartphone market down and worsening, but Apple’s tactic pays off – IDC
The global smartphone market fell more than 4% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, ending 2.5 years of consecutive growth, according to a new market intelligence report. Things are expected to get even worse as the memory shortage bites even harder, but the tactic adopted by Apple is paying off … more…

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Apple Watch hit by major bugs after watchOS 8.8.2 update
Macworld Around three weeks ago, Apple released watchOS 26.4 alongside iOS 26.4 and macOS 26.4. At the same time, the company quietly released updates for watchOS 5 and watchOS 8, two older versions of the Apple Watch’s operating system. These renewed security certificates and enabled iMessage and FaceTime to carry on working. Unfortunately, users are now reporting across various channels that the watchOS 8.8.2 update is causing problems with their Apple Watches. The most common issue appears to be an inability to install apps. Even Apple’s own apps, such as Maps and Weather, are not immune. Other users report random crashing and pairing errors. One affected Apple Watch shut down despite being almost fully charged; after a forced restart, it showed a battery level of 80%. A common tip for problems with the Apple Watch is to unpair it from the companion iPhone and then pair them again, but even during this step, affected users report that the connection sometimes fails. So far, there appears to be no permanent solution to either the crashes or the app installation problem. Several commenters on Reddit and Apple Community say they’ve already contacted Apple Support, but this hasn’t yet led to a fix, or even an explanation of what’s going on. To make matters worse, there is no easy way to revert to the previous version of watchOS. And while watchOS 8 might sound like an ancient OS, it’s compatible with some Apple Watch models which remain popular, such as the Series 6 and SE. If you’ve been affected by the issues with watchOS 8.8.2, please get in touch with us using the form below. The more user feedback Apple receives, the more likely it is that the developers in Cupertino will investigate the issue and (potentially) find a fix. Submit a form.

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The iPhone 4 and the scandals that rocked Apple
Macworld Quick–what’s the most important iPhone ever? Was it the original iPhone that started it all? The iPhone 6 Plus that offered larger sizes for the first time? The iPhone X that redefined the phone for a new decade? There’s a strong argument to be made that the iPhone 4 is bigger than them all. It debuted in spectacular and infamous fashion, generated one of Apple’s most remarkable controversies, and also ended up being one of the most influential iPhones in terms of design. Most important? Well, maybe. But there’s no doubt that the iPhone 4 is the most interesting iPhone ever. Found in a bar The iPhone 4 story starts with a bang exactly 16 years ago, as an Apple engineer accidentally left one in a German restaurant in Redwood City, California, where it was found by someone who sold it to the tech blog Gizmodo. It was less than two months before the new iPhone’s debut, which was scheduled for Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Gizmodo thoroughly documented every aspect of the device, spoiling what had traditionally been one of Steve Jobs’s greatest marketing tricks, the dramatic new-product reveal. It seems obvious now, but back in the day, the idea that a new product announcement could be theater was revolutionary. Technology product announcements were boring litanies of specs. Industry standard practice was to sow fear, uncertainty, and doubt by pre-announcing products long before they even existed. Jobs kept Apple’s stuff in a black box, under a dropcloth, to reveal when the time was right, like a magician. It made it feel like you were watching technology being invented in real-time. It was a brilliant bit of showmanship. The Gizmodo leak blew all of that up. There were police raids and criminal investigations, most of which went nowhere. But Apple lost its ability to publicize the iPhone 4–we all knew about it, in detail, way in advance. You’re holding it wrong Another milestone in the weird life of the iPhone 4 happened soon after the device was announced. All of a sudden, media reports began emerging that you could drop the phone’s cellular connection to no bars and end phone calls by placing your fingers on exactly the right spot on the device’s outside. Tim Cook and Steve Jobs do not want to be here. Jason Snell Antennagate wasn’t the first iPhone “gate,” but it might have been the biggest one. The storm of attention got so strong that Steve Jobs had to cut a family vacation short and fly back to Cupertino for a hastily-called press conference. After playing a viral music video by Jonathan Mann, Apple’s CEO appeared on stage and sure didn’t seem happy to be there. Jobs pointed out that lots of phones had places on them where, if you touched just the right spot, you could lose signal. He also admitted that Apple’s algorithm that displayed “cellular bars” was not really accurate and was misrepresenting weaker signals as stronger. He also seemed frustrated that a seemingly tiny number of user complaints were overshadowing the fact that more than 99 percent of iPhone 4 buyers seemed perfectly happy with their devices. But, admitting that a “bumper” case around the phone’s metal edges tended to mitigate the problem, Jobs offered a free bumper case to every iPhone 4 buyer. Jobs also famously gave every iPhone 4 user a little advice, if they found themselves holding the device in a way that reduced the cellular signal: “Just don’t hold it that way then.” There’s also a less-well-known scandal involving the iPhone 4, which Jobs referenced in the “Antennagate” press conference by apologizing for the fact that the white version of the iPhone 4 was late, but would be out later in July. That’s right–Apple sold the iPhone 4 in two colors, black and white, but the white one didn’t ship. Not in June, not in July, and not even in 2010. Apple’s white whale, er, iPhone didn’t ship until April 2011, a full 10 months after it was announced. Can you imagine? Steve Jobs offered iPhone 4 buyers a full refund if they held it wrong. Jason Snell Does it look familiar? But enough about the bad. Thanks to 16 years of hindsight, it’s also important to point out all the things about the iPhone 4 that make it a notable phone–in a good way. The iPhone 4 was the first model to break AT&T’s exclusivity deal in the United States. For the first 3 and 1/2 years of the iPhone’s existence, AT&T was Apple’s exclusive wireless partner. Then, in early 2011, Apple announced a special Verizon-only version of the iPhone4 that brought the phone to America’s biggest carrier. It was a huge step for both Verizon and Apple, bringing the iPhone to a huge new set of customers who just weren’t willing to switch carriers to get the phone they wanted. Perhaps most important, though, is the design of the iPhone 4. After the rounded original iPhone and the curvy plastic of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 was a real statement: Flat sides all around, clad in a band of silvery aluminum, with a flat front and back. The iPhone 4’s design persisted through the iPhone 5 and 5S, and then returned with a vengeance with the iPhone 12 series. Even today’s iPhone 17 Pro carries most of the shape with it, though it’s replaced the metal band with an entirely metal backshell. For my money, it’s this design that has stood the test of time and is the definitive iPhone look. Despite being unveiled accidentally in a German restaurant by an Apple engineer via a tech blog, then re-unveiled at WWDC, then apologized for, and with a white color variant that almost never appeared, the iPhone 4 is a huge part of iPhone history. Especially if you don’t hold it wrong.

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iPhone Ultra: Apple first folding iPhone design, display, and release rumors
Macworld We’ve been reporting on the supposedly imminent launch of a foldable iPhone for years. There have been strong and reliable rumors of a foldable iPhone being just two years away, dating as far back as 2018, at least. Back then, reliable reports from the likes of CNBC said Apple was going to have a folding iPhone on the market in 2020. That became 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025… and now it’s expected to land in 2026. So, while the rumors and reports from parts suppliers and analysts are heating up and we have more specifics than ever before, we would advise even more caution and skepticism than usual with Apple speculation. With that said, here’s what current rumors suggest about the release of a folding iPhone. Update April 14, 2026: We’ve updated this guide with the latest rumors, including more dummy models, pricing info, and another leak that “iPhone Ultra” will be the name. Foldable iPhone name: What will it be called? iPhone Ultra is the expected name Many fans and pundits have got into the habit of referring to the rumored device as the iPhone Fold, but this may not necessarily be the official name. The rumors and leaks from spring 2026 onwards suggest that Apple is looking to call it iPhone Ultra. In March, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg claimed that the folding iPhone will be one of several “Ultra” products coming this year—though not all will use “Ultra” branding, it’s certainly a possibility for the folding iPhone. Then, the Weibo account Digital Chat Station (which is hit-and-miss) said Apple is looking to use the iPhone Ultra name, too.

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Keep your brain active with this low-stakes learning app, now $70 for life (was $599.99)
Macworld TL;DR: Nibble is a new app that teaches you things like art, history, finance, and more, and a lifetime subscription is only $70. A lot of learning apps ask for more time and focus than most people actually have. Nibble takes the opposite approach, turning spare minutes into short lessons that feel manageable enough to keep using, even on days when a full course sounds exhausting. A lifetime subscription is also on sale now for only $69.99 (reg. $599.99). Nibble centers everything around 10-minute sessions, so you can pick up something new without feeling like you need to block out your whole evening. The app covers 16 broad topics, including history, art, AI, personal finance, music, and philosophy, and it mixes formats instead of forcing everything into the same lesson style. You can read, listen, watch, take quizzes, play learning games, or use AI chats that make the material feel a little more interactive. Some days, you may want a structured path that builds from one lesson to the next. Other days, you may just want to open the app, learn a few things about a topic that caught your attention, and move on. Nibble works both ways. The personalized recommendations and guided journeys help with direction, but the app still leaves room for curiosity. Another nice part of the setup is that it doesn’t pressure you to learn. There are no deadlines, no long assignments, and no sense that you are falling behind. New content gets added monthly, so the library keeps growing. The lifetime subscription unlocks the full library, plus all available formats, including lessons, videos, audio, games, and AI chats. If you want to keep yourself sharp and learn in your spare time, get a Nibble lifetime subscription for $69.99. Nibble All-Around Knowledge App (Lifetime Subscription)See Deal Buying this deal? Top off your cart to $100+, then add a Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license and use GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) to get it free through 4/19. Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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This $68 portable projector comes with a mic for backyard karaoke
Macworld TL;DR: The ION Portable HD Projector comes with built-in speakers and a wired Mic, and it’s on sale for $68. Some portable projectors require all sorts of separate accessories, which very quickly defeats the purpose of having a portable projector. The ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector keeps things simple by putting the projector, speaker, Bluetooth, and microphone support in one unit, so you can set it up for a movie, game, or karaoke night without dragging out a pile of extra gear. Right now, you can pick up one of these portable projectors for only $67.99 (reg. $84.99). This is not a cinema-quality movie projector, but it’s not supposed to be. You get 720p HD resolution, 100 ANSI lumens, and an adjustable image from 30 inches to 150 inches. That won’t replace a serious home theater setup, but it should work well for movies, games, and outdoor hangouts once the light drops. The bigger selling point is the sound. Most compact projectors sound thin and weak on their own, but this one has a built-in 70W stereo system with dual 3-inch drivers and 1.5-inch tweeters, so you can actually fill a room or patio without immediately reaching for another speaker. That’s especially useful for karaoke nights, which can also benefit from the included microphone. Connecting to your projector is easy. It has ports for HDMI, USB, and AUX, so it’s easy to hook up a laptop, console, or another media device. Bluetooth 5.3 is built in with a range of up to 100 feet, so it can pull double duty as a wireless speaker when you’re not using the projector. Get an ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector on sale for $67.99 while you can. ION Portable HD Outdoor Projector with Bluetooth, Speakers & MicrophoneSee Deal Buying this deal? Top off your cart to $100+, then add a Microsoft Office 2021 lifetime license and use GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) to get it free through 4/19. Gift with $100+ purchase promo ends April 19, 2026. Exclusions apply. Only one promo code applicable per order. StackSocial prices subject to change.

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YouTube Music rolls out split-view Now Playing redesign on Android, iOS
The split-view Now Playing redesign that YouTube Music has been working on since last year is now widely rolling out.  more…

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Developers behind vibe coding app Anything detail next steps after months-long fight with Apple
Following a dispute that led to two removals from the App Store, the developers behind the vibe coding platform Anything are publicly accusing Apple of shutting out a new generation of app creators through outdated app review guidelines. Here are the details. more…

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Grok nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes almost led to an App Store ban
Apple reportedly threatened Grok owner xAI with an App Store ban if the deepfake nude generation issues weren't addressed. In spite of ongoing problems with the chatbot, the app was never removed.X and Grok faced backlash after deepfake problemFor several horrific days in January, social media platform X was flooded with AI-generated pornographic images involving non-consenting adults and minors. Many wondered why legal entities were slow to respond, but above all, why Apple was completely silent on the matter.According to a new report from CNBC, shared by 9to5Mac, Apple did threaten to remove Grok from the App Store. While Elon Musk did change moderation rules on X, even after monetizing the illegal porn, the Grok app didn't change much at all. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning, premieres on Apple TV
Apple TV subscribers can now watch the first three episodes of comedic drama Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning (Predator: Badlands), Michelle Pfeiffer (Basic Instinct), and Nicole Kidman (The Hours). Here are the details. more…

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