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- Wednesday April 08
- 03:00 pmApple and Lenovo Have the Least Repairable Laptops, Analysis Finds
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Apple earned the lowest grades in a report on laptop and smartphone repairability released today by the consumer advocacy group Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund. The report, which looks at how easy devices are to disassemble and how easy it is to find repairability information, gave Apple a C-minus in laptop repairability and a D-minus in cell phone repairability. For its "Failing the Fix (2026): Grading laptop and cell phone companies on the fixability of their products" report, PIRG analyzed the 10 newest laptops and phones that were available via manufacturers' French website in January. [...] Apple leads the list of laptop repairability losers, largely due to it having low disassembly scores. Apple, along with Dell and Samsung, also lost a full point for being members of TechNet and the CTA. Lenovo had the second-worst grade with a C-minus. Like Apple, Lenovo had low disassembly scores. It also lost 0.5 points for failing to properly post PDFs explaining the French repair scores for some of its newest laptops sold in the region, as required in France. This is especially noteworthy because Lenovo got an F in last year's report for missing this information on at least 12 laptops. At the time, Lenovo director of communications David Hamilton provided a statement to Ars saying that the missing information was "due to a backend web compatibility issue that temporarily prevented the display of repairability scores on our Lenovo France website" that was "widely resolved." However, it appears that over a year later, Lenovo still isn't providing sufficient information to meet France's requirements "While Lenovo has improved somewhat with their compliance with French consumer law by providing more repair score PDFs on their website, we urge the company to resolve this multi-year issue," this year's report says. PIRG's report concluded that "laptops are pretty stagnant in terms of repairability" across many of the eight most popular laptop brands in the US. However, Proctor noted to Ars that consumers' access to parts, tools, and information that vendors have has improved, but improvements around ease of disassembly "take longer to realize." He also praised vendors' efforts to release more repairable designs, such as Apple's MacBook Neo. For its repairability index, PIRG weighed physical ease of disassembly most heavily, while also considering the availability of repair documentation, spare parts, spare-parts affordability, and other product-specific criteria. It then adjusted company grades by deducting points for membership in trade groups that oppose right-to-repair laws and adding small bonuses for manufacturers that supported right-to-repair legislation. Acer stood out as the only laptop vendor that avoided the 0.5-point trade-group penalty, since it was not listed as a member of TechNet or the Consumer Technology Association. Read more of this story at Slashdot.02:58 pmInsta360's Snap Selfie Screen makes rear-camera shooting on iPhone easier
Bypass your iPhone's front camera entirely by using Insta360's Snap Selfie Screen, allowing you to shoot better selfies with the good cameras, and record in 4K.Image Credit: Insta360Insta360 has released its own take on the popular rear-camera selfie screen. Dubbed 'Snap,' it allows you to use your iPhone's higher quality rear cameras the same way you'd use the front cam.If you haven't seen them before, a rear selfie screen is essentially a plug-and-play touchscreen monitor that shows you what your rear cameras see. This makes it significantly easier to line up the perfect shot, whether for video or a still image. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:51 pmTake nearly $100 off this do-it-all Anker MagSafe charging station
Macworld Anker Prime 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger 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; }); })(); It’s finally spring, and that means it’s time to clean up all those wires cluttering your desk. This 3-in-1 Anker Prime MagSafe Charger is just what you need, and it just so happens that now’s the best time to get your hands on one: Amazon is selling Anker’s Prime MagSafe Charger for $144 after a $70 discount and 10 percent coupon, a savings of $86 and the best price we’ve ever seen. This desktop stand was engineered to make charging your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods easier than ever. With two floating charging arms — one for your iPhone and one for your Watch — you can just place your earbuds on the pad below. The charging station delivers 25W ultrafast charging, so you won’t have to wait long to regain full use of your device. You can easily monitor power status as well as device temps in real-time, through the integrated live charging display right on the base. There are also three charging modes that adjust coolness levels and charging speeds to save time and energy. When we reviewed the Anker Prime MagSafe Charger, we gave it 4.5 stars and our Editor’s Choice award, so you know it’s great. If you’re looking to streamline your desk or nightstand and get everything back to 100 percent capacity while you work or sleep, this $144 price tag is better than any we’ve ever seen, so go grab one right away.02:50 pm9to5Mac Daily: April 7, 2026 – Apple’s MacBook Neo quandary
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 Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily. more…02:50 pm9to5Mac Daily: April 8, 2026 – New CarPlay apps, iPhone Fold reports
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 Backblaze: Backup you can rely on. Save 20% with code 9to5daily. more…02:42 pmBiggest problem with the MacBook Neo? It’s too popular!
Apple has a problem that other companies can only dream of. It might completely sell out of the MacBook Neo. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:19 pmM5 MacBook Air drops to record low $949 on Amazon
Apple's sleek and powerful 2026 M5 MacBook Air has barely been out for a month, but it's already seeing impressive discounts… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.02:15 pm'Dark Matter' season two expands into a multiverse story on Apple TV
"Dark Matter" is no longer a contained sci-fi thriller, as Apple pushes the series into a larger, more complex multiverse story for its second season.Jennifer Connelly and Joel Edgerton. Image credit: AppleApple unveiled the next chapter on April 7, offering a sneak peek and new story details that expand on the multiverse concept from season one. Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly reprise their roles as Jason and Daniela Dessen.In season one on Apple TV, we followed Jason Dessen, a physicist who found himself in alternate versions of his life. Each decision he made created a different reality, making his journey both fascinating and chaotic. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:59 pmiPhones on space missions are as valuable as they are fun
The spacesuits worn by the Artemis II crew during their moon mission have a feature completely new to space missions – an iPhone. Each has a pocket containing an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone had to pass a whole bank of safety tests in order to be approved for the mission – but that preparation was totally worthwhile … more…01:45 pmInsta360 jumps on the rear iPhone screen trend with its new Snap monitor
Insta360, named for its panoramic action camera, is the latest company to jump on the magnetic selfie screen for iPhone trend. more…01:45 pmApple locks in Samsung as sole OLED supplier for folding iPhone
The source of bending screens in Apple's newest handsets is now confirmed: Samsung will supply folding iPhone OLED panels. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:34 pmApple TV unveils return of acclaimed London crime thriller
Apple TV’s next crime thriller is the return of Criminal Record, with season 2 premiering later this month—here’s the new trailer. more…01:30 pmStart a website for just $20, without getting lost in the setup
Secure one year of Hostinger managed WordPress hosting for just $19.99 and launch up to 50 websites with easy-to-use tools. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:23 pmApple’s first foldable iPhone still on track for September launch – Gurman
Apple’s first foldable iPhone remains on track for a September launch this year, according to Bloomberg News' Mark Gurman… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:15 pmBest mouse and trackpad for your Mac or MacBook
Macworld If you’re looking for a mouse for a Mac or MacBook, you’ve got plenty of options beyond Apple’s Magic Mouse. These days most mice will work on either Mac or PC, so you’ve got access to just about the entire PC mouse market, from wired to wireless, trackpads to trackballs, and even over-the-top dedicated gaming mice. The more sophisticated mice require software, so ensure that the settings app works on a Mac. All the mice tested here that have Settings apps are Mac-compatible. A lot of people prefer using a mouse to their laptop’s trackpad. A mouse makes things much easier and just feels more comfortable and familiar. But for some people mice can be an ergonomic nightmare, so luckily there are alternatives. Beware of the cheapest wireless mice out there. Many require a nano receiver to plug into an old-school USB-A port on the computer, and newer MacBooks have just one or two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports instead. Ideally, you’ll want a Bluetooth-compatible mouse to connect wirelessly to a MacBook or Mac. If you’re trying to get the hang of your Apple-friendly mouse, you may want to know how to right-click on a Mac. We also have a round up of the Best Keyboards for Mac. Best Mice to use with MacBook or Mac We’ve rounded up our favorite Mac mice below, starting with Apple and moving to ultra-productive mice with multiple buttons and scroll wheels, gaming mice and trackpads, and ultra-ergonomic solutions. Whether you want a basic spare or travel mouse, we’ve tested the best Mac mice we can find. While we love Apple’s Magic Mice there are some better options that will probably better meet your needs – we discuss how to pick the best mouse for your Mac at the bottom of this article. For example, the Logitech MX Master 4, features a comfortable ergonomic design, two scroll wheels, multiple programmable buttons, and haptic feedback technology. If you prioritize wrist comfort, the Logitech Lift is designed with a 57-degree vertical angle to place your hand in a natural handshake position, which helps reduce strain. Known for its gaming gear, Razer also offers a compelling productivity mouse called the Pro Click 2. It features a comfortable design and programmable buttons. And for those who are always on the move with their MacBook, the ESR MagMouse offers a unique solution. It’s a lightweight, capable wireless mouse that can magnetically attach to an adhesive base stuck to your laptop, making it harder to lose or drop. Read on for our Mac mice reviews and buying guide. Below this chart of the best Mac mice, we look in more details about how to pick the right mouse for your Mac. Apple Magic Mouse – Default Apple Wireless Mouse Pros Sleek and elegant design Top of the mouse acts like a trackpad Touch controls allow vertical and horizontal scrolling Cons Terrible design choice with the position of the charging port Not so comfortable if you have large hands Price When Reviewed: $79 Best Prices Today: New Refurbished Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal $79 View Deal $79 View Deal $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Magic mouse 3 Wireless – White $Not Available View Deal Magic mouse Wireless – Silver $Not Available View Deal Price comparison from Backmarket Dots per inch: 1300dpi Like it or not, the Apple Magic Mouse is the mouse that all others have to square up to in the battle to find the best mouse for Mac users. Unchanged since 2015 (aside from an update to USB-C from Lightning in 2024) and in reality little changed since 2009, the Magic Mouse is what Apple ships with every iMac (in seven accented colors) and Mac Pro (black) and one of only two mice you can buy as a separate on the Apple Store (in black or white). The Magic Mouse is sleek and elegant, the way an Apple product should be. There are no old-fashioned buttons or scroll-wheels to spoil the mouse’s streamlined design, as the entire top multi-touch surface panel acts like a small, touch-sensitive trackpad. It works really well and cleverly combines the fluidity of a trackpad with the physicality of a mouse. Some mice have scroll wheels that can be noisy, but the Apple Magic Mouse’s trackpad top is silent in that regard. The low-profile design won’t suit people with larger hands, but the touch controls do work very well, allowing you to scroll both horizontally and vertically simply by flicking your finger in the required direction. You can set up a secondary button, rather than settle for the all-over click, on either side within the Mouse tab in your Mac’s System Settings. Where the Magic Mouse stands out of the nest of Mac mice, is gestures. You can control gestures, such as zooming and switching between applications and pages, by using the Mouse Preferences panel on the Mac. Double-tap with two fingers to launch the Mac’s Mission Control. In Settings you can also turn on Pointer Acceleration for faster or more precise mouse movements. The button-free design also means that the Magic Mouse is suitable for both left- and right-handed users—unlike the Logitech MX Master 3S mouse reviewed below. The rechargeable battery lasts for only about a month at a time—which would be fine if it weren’t for one thing… Apple did finally get around to switching the Lightning connector to a USB-C connector for charging the internal battery, but it is still on the base of the mouse, which means that you can’t use the mouse while it’s charging, as you have to flip it over on to its side in order to insert the cable. Apple also sells a black version of the Magic Mouse for an extra $20/£20, which is a bit cheeky as no other mouse manufacturer charges more for color choices. Read our full Apple Magic Mouse review01:08 pmiPhone Fold ‘on track’ for fall launch, despite delay rumors
Macworld Apple’s biggest launch of the year is still scheduled to take place in September, according to a respected leaker. This report follows claims that the product faced manufacturing difficulties and could be delayed for months, potentially pushing shipments back to December or even early 2027. In an article for Bloomberg this week, Mark Gurman says Apple’s first folding phone “is on track to arrive during the company’s normal iPhone launch period later this year.” That launch period is September, which is when almost every flagship iPhone (as opposed to the budget models, which come out in spring) has been announced since 2012, and most have been shipped. There have been a couple of exceptions. In 2020, the iPhone 12 event was pushed back to October as a result of the COVID pandemic, and two of the models didn’t ship until November. Similarly, 2022’s iPhone 14 Plus didn’t ship until October despite being announced as usual in September. Earlier this week, Nikkei Asia published an article predicting that 2026 could see a similar or even worse delay as a result of “setbacks in the engineering test phase.” The outlet cited multiple “sources briefed on the matter” and named the complexity of foldable devices, rather than current component shortages, as the reason why, in the worst-case scenario, the first iPhone Fold shipments could be delayed by “months.” Apple shares fell by more than 5 percent after this story appeared. And no wonder. As we’ve seen, even a delay of two months would be as bad as anything we’ve seen in the past 14 years. A delay of three would take us up to the December timeframe predicted by a lone Barclays analyst last month, while four would push the Fold’s launch back to 2027. But Gurman does not agree with this assessment: Indeed, he specifically refers to his sources “rebutting” the concerns, and links to the Nikkei article. He acknowledges the Fold’s complexity and admits that supplies are likely to be limited in the first few weeks after it comes out, but insists Apple “is currently operating with a plan to put the device on sale around the same time–or very soon after–the new non-foldable models.” Of course, nothing is certain, and there’s still five months to go until the scheduled launch of the Fold. (Or iPhone Ultra.) With this in mind, Gurman concedes that the timing of the launch “isn’t final.” For all the latest news and rumors as we head towards this high-stakes launch, bookmark our regularly updated iPhone Fold superguide.01:08 pmEven MacBook Neo can't save Apple from repairability complaints
Despite advances in user repair and the improvements in the MacBook Neo, Apple just can't get away from being rated poorly for repairability.Repairing a MacBook - Image Credit: AppleRepairability is a long-time problem for Apple, after being repeatedly shamed for having hard-to-repair products. In recent years, it has tried to make its products easier to fix, which should eventually improve its image.That initiative was put to good use with the MacBook Neo, with the traditional teardown resulting in the notebook being called the most repairable MacBook since 2012. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums01:04 pmApple TV film ‘Outcome’ captures Keanu Reeves’ character at center of image crisis
In Apple TV's dark comedy film “Outcome,” Keanu Reeves stars as Reef Hawk, a beloved Hollywood movie star whose meticulously… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:02 pmMac Script Editor becomes new entry point for ClickFix malware
ClickFix attacks targeting Mac users now use Script Editor instead of Terminal, a shift that sidesteps Apple's latest protections and streamlines the attack.ClickFix tricks the userApple introduced command scanning for pasted input in macOS 26.4, which added friction to earlier versions of the attack. Attackers now avoid that step by replacing copy-and-paste instructions with a guided workflow that launches Script Editor directly.Jamf says the campaign delivers a payload identified as a variant of Atomic Stealer through a fake system cleanup process. ClickFix attacks have traditionally relied on persuading users to copy and paste malicious commands into Terminal. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums12:52 pmApple very cautious about iPhone Ultra sales, as Samsung wins major concession
A new report suggests Apple is being extremely cautious in its expectations of demand for its most expensive ever smartphone, the iPhone Fold (or iPhone Ultra). The company is said to have told manufacturing partners to plan for significantly lower orders than initially expected. The report also says that Samsung has taken advantage of its technological lead in advanced folding displays to win a major concession from Apple … more…