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- Wednesday December 03
- 04:40 pmiPhone 17 Pro lost key Camera app feature that iPhone 16 Pro had
iPhone 17 Pro offers a much-improved camera experience over prior models like the iPhone 16 Pro. But an Apple support document confirms that one previous Camera app feature has been removed: Night mode photos are no longer available in Portrait mode. more…04:32 pmHoliday MacBook Air deals slash prices by up to $600
Cyber Week deals on Apple's MacBook Air are going on now, with M4 price points as low as $749.99 and a blowout M1 deal available for $499.Save up to $600 on MacBook Air laptops for Cyber Monday - Image credit: AppleAmazon has the lowest prices on the retail configurations, but B&H is offering its own aggressive sales on upgraded models, including M4 models with 32GB of memory and/or extra storage.If you're looking for the cheapest MacBook Air price for casual use, Walmart has the closeout M1 model on sale for $499. If budget allows, though, we recommend opting for the $749.99 M4 spec that has 16GB of memory vs. the 8GB in the clearance M1 model. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:14 pmToday in Apple history: World’s first iPad-only newspaper folds
On December 3, 2012, News Corp pulled the plug on innovative iPad newspaper "The Daily" less than two years after the publication's launch. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)04:09 pmBusyCal 2025.4.2 and BusyContacts 2025.4.3
Updates the calendar and contact apps with improvements and bug fixes. ($49.99 new for each, free update, various sizes, macOS 11.5+)04:02 pmIt’s a wonder Apple’s so-called AI strategist John Giannandrea lasted so long
Apple's AI chief, John Giannandrea, will finally exit the company after seven years at the helm, a move that gave the company's stock… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:59 pmHow to see all the books you read in 2025 with Apple Books
Apple has made a full snapshot of your 2025 reading habits with the Apple Books Year in Review. Here's how to see and share it.A look back at your 2025 reading with Apple BooksIt's December, and all your favorite apps are giving you a breakdown of all your yearly statistics. Apple Music does this every year, but for the past few years, Apple Books has joined in on the fun.If you use Apple Books to read all your favorite digital prose, your 2025 Year in Review is now ready to explore. It's a fun little snapshot of everything you've spent the past twelve months reading. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:57 pmThe iPhone 17 Pro lost a key feature in the Camera app, and users are upset
Macworld If you’ve tried to take a portrait shot with your new iPhone 17 Pro, you might have noticed that a feature is missing. Portrait Mode was first introduced with the iPhone 7 Plus, and it uses depth data to create an artificial bokeh effect in the background of a photo. Since the iPhone 12 Pro, thanks to the LiDAR scanner, Portrait Mode also works in combination with Night Mode – but that seems to have changed with the iPhone 17 Pro. As noted by many users on Reddit and Apple’s own discussion forums and confirmed in this support document, the feature has quietly disappeared from the latest iPhone models. How Night Mode on iPhone works For those unfamiliar with it, Night Mode essentially enables a longer exposure on the camera, which can range from 1 second to 30 seconds, depending on the lighting conditions in the environment. With a longer exposure, the sensor captures more light, resulting in better photos in the dark. Starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, most regular photos can be converted to Portrait mode – that’s because the Camera app automatically stores depth data in the background. However, on the iPhone 17 Pro, photos taken at night with Night Mode turned on don’t have the depth data needed to be converted to Portrait mode. Night mode has been a staple of portrait shots for years.Apple When users try to manually take a photo at night with Portrait Mode turned on, the option to use Night Mode disappears. Macworld confirmed this behavior by comparing the iPhone 17 Pro Max to previous iPhone models. In older models, combining Night Mode and Portrait Mode is entirely possible, even on iOS 26. Although some users thought this might be caused by a bug, Apple’s website confirms that Night Mode support when taking Portrait photos is not available for iPhone 17 Pro models. Why Apple might have made this change There’s no word from Apple on why they made this decision, but we have a few theories. Because Night Mode takes longer to take photos, some users who don’t fully understand how the feature works end up getting annoyed when they have to wait a few seconds for the iPhone to take the photo. In some cases, Night Mode is triggered automatically, but the longer exposure can cause users to miss an important moment by moving their phone too quickly. Combine Night Mode with Portrait Mode, and the delay for taking a photo becomes even longer. And that delay can be the difference between quickly capturing a moment and missing the shot. But did Night Mode really make a difference for Portrait photos? Are the photos better without it? Here’s what I found out. The photo taken with Night Mode is brighter, but the iPhone 17’s portrait shot is crisper.Foundry While a Portrait photo taken with Night Mode on does indeed look brighter, it also has more noise and more artifacts caused by post-processing. The photo taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, looks darker, but also has less noise and more detail. Another thing to keep in mind is that photos taken with Night Mode are always limited to 12 megapixels, while Portrait photos without it can be captured at 24 megapixels. Is Apple quietly killing Night Mode? For now, I don’t think Apple is killing Night Mode. The feature is still available for those who want to use it in regular camera mode. Still, it’s intriguing when a feature that has been available for years simply disappears without explanation. If you have an iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max, you’ll have to decide between taking brighter photos at night or using the fancy Portrait effect. At least until Apple decides to bring the feature back, if that ever happens.03:44 pmNew low-cost iPhone 17 model now rumored to get two design changes
Rumors about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17e keep coming, with the latest indicating the low-cost model will pack not one, but two changes to its design: a Dynamic Island and thinner bezels. more…03:41 pmMLS puts Apple's iPhone 17 Pro to work as a broadcast camera
A new MLS Cup broadcast will use four iPhone 17 Pro units alongside professional cameras, making Apple's slogan a reality in live sports.iPhone 17 ProThe phones will feed directly into the league's 30-plus camera production during the Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps final. The setup shows how far iPhone imaging has come and why Major League Soccer (MLS) is willing to treat a consumer device as a broadcast-grade tool.Professional sports broadcasts rely on large-sensor cameras that handle motion, low light, and color consistency under pressure. Phones rarely appear in these environments because latency, thermal limits, and dynamic range can break a live show. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:22 pmApple Watch scores first place for Strava users
Strava just shared its 12th Annual Year in Sport Trend Report, and Apple Watch takes the gold medal in an important category. more…03:16 pmYour Friends & Neighbors season 2 gets release date on Apple TV
Jon Hamm’s Your Friends & Neighbors was one of Apple TV’s biggest hits this year, and Apple has just announced the release date for season 2. more…03:14 pmAfter Apple refusal, Indian government completes U-turn on mandatory iPhone app
The saga of a mandatory government security app which Apple and Google had to preinstall on their phones didn’t last long after Apple refused to play ball. The Indian government had already backed down on preventing iPhone owners from deleting the “security” app, and has now made a complete U-turn in the space of just 48 hours … more…03:01 pmGerman Antitrust watchdog puts Apple’s redesigned iPhone app tracking pop-ups to the ultimate test | Mac Daily NewsGerman Antitrust watchdog puts Apple’s redesigned iPhone app tracking pop-ups to the ultimate test
Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) announced on Tuesday that it has launched a market test of Apple's proposed… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:00 pmThese hidden iOS 26 features are actually useful [Video]
iOS 26 is easily the most significant visual overhaul we’ve seen on the iPhone in years. We got the new Liquid Glass UI, better Files systems, and a complete Camera app change. All the things that Apple showed off and highlighted. However, after using iOS 26 and iOS 26.1 for a few months, it seemed like Apple decided not to inform us about some of the best functional features, such as default audio input, camera enhancements, and even an update to the Alarm, which had remained unchanged for 20 years. So here are the best hidden iOS 26 features that Apple didn’t tell us about. more…02:59 pmIndia blinks: won't require Apple to preinstall a state app on iPhone
India's government has backtracked on its demand for Apple to preinstall a state-backed app onto the iPhone, after facing a predictable public backlash.A graphic Apple created for the launch of its online Apple Store in India in 2020 - Image credit: AppleOn November 28, the India Ministry of Communication issued a secret directive to Apple and other smartphone manufacturers, requiring the preinstallation of a government-backed app. Less than a week later, the order has been rescinded.The withdrawal on Wednesday means Apple doesn't have to preload the Sanchar Saathi app onto iPhones sold in the country, in a way that couldn't be "disabled or restricted." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:50 pmApple Books launches Year in Review, plus best books of 2025
It’s the season for year-end recaps. Apple Music Replay debuted yesterday and Apple Books’ Year in Review is now available too, alongside Apple’s picks for best books of 2025. more…02:39 pmAmazon's top $1,349 M5 MacBook Pro deal is still in stock for the holidays
Black Friday pricing is still in effect this week on Apple's M5 14-inch MacBook Pro, with the October 2025 release marked down to $1,349. Save $250 on upgraded models as well.Save $250 on Apple's brand-new M5 MacBook Pro.Apple's latest 14-inch MacBook Pro M5 is on sale now at Amazon, with the standard model marked down to $1,349. This reflects a $250 discount off MSRP, despite the laptop being a new release, having launched in October 2025.Save $250 on M5 MacBook Pro Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:30 pmYour calendar just got smarter: Grab this AI upgrade for just $30
This smart calendar app uses AI to organize and schedule your days. Grab a three-year subscription to Smart Calendars AI for just $29.99. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:25 pmFour iPhones will provide live footage of Saturday’s MLS Cup match
Saturday’s Major League Soccer championship match between Inter Miami and the Whitecaps will incorporate footage from four iPhones. Apple previously used iPhones to capture live game footage during two Friday Night Baseball broadcasts. MLS said that the weekend telecast will involve the league’s largest ever set of cameras, giving fans access to an unprecedented range of angles … more…02:08 pmAVG Internet Security for Mac review: Solid protection, but the free version could be enough | MacworldAVG Internet Security for Mac review: Solid protection, but the free version could be enough
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Strong antivirus and anti-malware detection and protection Speedy performance and a good level of customization/whitelist file creation Network Inspector and Ransomware Shield add some useful elements as well as an extra layer of security in case of hacking Cons Anti-phishing and anti-fake website protection tools underperform despite catching occasional malware Occasional hiccups when removing detected malware The paid features feel only marginally better than the free version Our Verdict AVG Internet Security for Mac is a solid, competent security suite, and definitely worth Considering — but its uneven web protection and anti-spam/anti-phishing features make it a tougher sell over the free version. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$3.89 a month for 1 Mac ($46.68 for the first year, then $77.99 a year), or $4.99 a month for 10 devices ($59.88 for the first year, then $99.99 a year). Best Prices Today: AVG Internet Security for Mac Retailer Price AVG $46.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket First year, 1 Mac$46.68First year, 10 devices$59.8860 Day TrialFreeSee all plans & pricing at AVG There’s always the question of what you get with the full/paid version of a software application, especially if the free/demo version already provides a respectable feature set. Following up on my review of AVG AntiVirus Free for Mac comes AVG Internet Security for Mac, the full-fledged, if somewhat confusingly named, version of AVG’s antiviral/anti-malware protection. Another of the solutions we are looking at in our round up of the best Mac antivirus apps for Mac users. The paid version offers purported hacker and payment protection tools in addition to the core antiviral/anti-malware feature set found in the free version. Like the free version, AVG Internet Security requires macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later to run, and downloads and installs easily, requesting access to your Mac’s entire disk as well as permission to set up networking tools as needed. Unlike the free version, AVG Internet Security asks for your payment credentials, whereupon you can either start a one- to three-year subscription or begin a 60-day trial period; AVG then emails an activation code to unlock the application’s full feature set and removes reminders to upgrade. Everything that excels in the free version stands just as well in the paid version. AVG’s antivirus and malware protection remains sharpened. The application syncs nicely with macOS’s built-in Gatekeeper and XProtect elements to catch just about all the malware samples thrown at it. Foundry Yes, occasional malware can still slip through the cracks, but you’ll have to bypass multiple warning screens to install and execute them. Like the free version, it’s easy to use AVG Internet Security to schedule and execute the scan types (Smart Scan, Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, External Storage Scan), though the user-interface quibble remains: you’ll have to dig through menus to monitor scheduled scans after they begin. AVG’s paid feature set comes under four core modules: Computer Protection, Web & Email Protection, Hacker Attacks, and Payment Protection. The Hacker Attacks module offers a Network Inspector and a Ransomware Shield. The Payments module offers a Fake Website Shield (and related phishing protections). The Network Inspector is nifty for checking exactly how many and which types of devices are on your network; it can alert you when a new device joins, which is handy for spotting intruders or unexpected devices on your home Wi-Fi. The Ransomware Shield acts as an encryption-layer safeguard, preventing ransomware (or malicious software) from changing, deleting or locking protected folders like Documents or Pictures. You can customize which folders are protected, which is a nice touch. Foundry Fake Website / Web & Payment Protection is designed to help stop you from visiting phishing or scam websites, prevent inadvertent downloads of malware, and stop your payment credentials from being sent to shady sites. In testing, AVG generally warns when we were about to click into suspicious links — which is a useful first line of defense. Furthermore, AVG Internet Security handles external drives, .zip or .dmg archives, Time Machine backups, and offers customisable whitelists/exclusions. This is handy if you deal with many archives, external media, or backup volumes. Scans tend to be fast: a quick scan only takes a few minutes, while a full scan of a large NVMe drive may take several hours — reasonable for what you get. All that said, the software isn’t perfect. Even though AVG blocks the vast majority of tested malware, it’s not bulletproof. In our testing, a fake copy of Adobe Flash Player slipped through initially (though it was later removed via Gatekeeper). It’s possible, as with any security suite, to override protection if you insist on installing something malicious. Also, scheduled scans, while reliable, don’t trigger obvious UI notifications by default, so you might not realize when a scan is happening unless you check manually. Foundry Most importantly, while the additional tools (Network Inspector, Ransomware Shield, Fake Website Shield) sound great in theory and are welcome in practice, they don’t guarantee complete protection. The “Web & Payment Protection” module can guard against many phishing or scam sites, but occasionally questionable websites, spam links, or shady adverts may still slip through without warning. Foundry This undermines part of the value proposition for paying for the full version. (In my own testing, I noticed this gap: some suspicious spam-related links in an email spam folder still allowed access to dubious websites; while AVG sometimes stopped accompanying malware, the lack of warnings undermines user confidence.) Should you buy AVG Internet Security for Mac If you’re a fan of AVG Antivirus Free for Mac, then migrating to AVG Internet Security (via the 60-day trial or a paid subscription) will feel familiar and comfortable. The core antivirus and anti-malware protection remain strong, the software’s performance is responsive and quick, and features like Network Inspector and Ransomware Shield are genuinely useful and worth their weight. However, whether the paid features are head and shoulders above what the free version already offers is debatable. The Payments/Fake Website protections sometimes feel lacklustre, and the occasional gaps in web-threat blocking make it harder to unreservedly recommend the subscription, especially if the main motivator is web/payment security. Unless you’re particularly concerned about ransomware, want external-drive scanning, or need extra network-level protection, the free version (or at least a thorough try-out of the 60-day trial) remains a reasonable, low-cost way to see whether the extras justify the cost.