Apple Intelligence is Sherlock and Watson all over again
Macworld Apple Intelligence marks a turning point. Not just for Apple, which finally learned how to say “AI” and is diving head-first into making big generative AI features a central part of its products. It’s a turning point for the tech industry as a whole. This year, AI begins its transition from a novel product to an expected feature, a move made by dozens of software technologies before it. And Apple Intelligence plays a key role. The software technology lifecycle It’s not true of every piece of software, but it happens a lot: something you used to have to seek out and buy eventually just becomes a baked-in part of the products you already have. The most famous example of this for Apple users is Sherlock. That was the name for Apple’s system-wide Mac search feature introduced way back in macOS 8.5. A third-party company (Karelia Software) sold a neat $30 utility called Watson that added internet search and other capabilities to Sherlock. Users loved it. Back when Spotlight was Sherlock, it was a big deal. Now it’s just another feature. Back when Spotlight was Sherlock, it was a big deal. Now it’s just another feature.Foundry Back when Spotlight was Sherlock, it was a big deal. Now it’s just another feature.Foundry Foundry Within a couple of years, Apple just added those features to Sherlock, making Watson obsolete. They never licensed or paid Karelia, didn’t buy the company, they just took what used to be paid software and turned it into a feature. We now call this “getting Sherlocked” and it happens all the time. You used to have to buy software to burn CDs or watch DVD movies. Antivirus software wasn’t built into anything. Companies like f.lux got Sherlocked by Night Mode display settings. All the big tech companies do it. From speech recognition to health trackers and so much more, software and services that you had to find, choose, and pay for eventually become included as part of the operating systems and devices you use. It happens on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it happens on Windows, it happens on Android. This year, Apple is being accused of “Sherlocking” 1Password and Dashlane by making Passwords its own app, Truecaller by adding native call recording and transcription, and Magnet with the new macOS Sequoia window tiling feature. And now with Apple Intelligence, it’s starting to do the same to gen-AI apps and services. The transition will take years Apple’s not alone here. Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PCs require powerful NPUs (Neural Processing Units) and offer a mix of on-device and cloud AI services that include image generation, live captions on any video, and a built-in chatbot interface that works together with outside AI services like ChatGPT. Google has been infusing Android with its AI over the last couple of years and this year’s Android 15 release adds even more generative AI with an upgraded multi-modal “Gemini Nano” on-device model, on-screen awareness, real-time scam call detection, and more. Google’s own Gemini AI is all over its latest Pixel phones. Google’s own Gemini AI is all over its latest Pixel phones.Google Google’s own Gemini AI is all over its latest Pixel phones.Google Google Artificial Intelligence is a big field and still going through rapid growth, so its transformation from product to feature won’t happen in just one release. Just as people kept buying CD-burning software to get more powerful features for years after it was built into computer operating systems, stand-alone AI apps and services aren’t going to disappear anytime soon. People will want more than what is built in. But 2024 is the start of the next phase; the phase where AI, like so many products and services before, reaches most people as a feature that is baked into their phones, laptops, and tablets. What is built-in will be “good enough” for most, and integration with outside services will be free and seamless. Take Apple’s deal with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT. Whether you’re using Siri, writing tools, or art tools, you’ll be able to call upon ChatGPT-4o’s expanded capabilities right from within the OS interface, without downloading an app, signing up, or signing in. Over the coming years, this will start to look like the search engine defaults in your web browser–most people won’t know or care that they can be changed or why they would want to. You just open your browser and search. AI will eventually become boring Apple makes improvements to its Spotlight system-wide search (the feature that grew out of Sherlock) every year. Nobody really cares, though. It’s barely noticed and not a selling point anymore. The same can be said of all the other software and services absorbed by platforms over the years. They start as neat new features worthy of keynote stage time and advertisements. Eventually, people get bored with it. They become features we’ve had and used for years, and the improvements are welcome but not worth crowing about. Apple Intelligence is exciting and new in iOS 18, but before long it’ll just be another boring feature. Apple Intelligence is exciting and new in iOS 18, but before long it’ll just be another boring feature.Apple Apple Intelligence is exciting and new in iOS 18, but before long it’ll just be another boring feature.Apple Apple This is the obvious endgame for generative AI, though the timetable looks longer. We’ll hear about amazing new AI capabilities as part of our operating systems (from Apple and others) for a few more years at least. Features pioneered by other companies in their stand-alone apps will slowly make their way into “free” features built into our products. And when there’s enough there, and it works well enough, to meet the needs of almost all customers, it’ll be just another boring feature that gets updated every year. A throwaway line from the CEO as he transitions to talking about the next big thing. Generative AI as a feature is not really a thing yet. You can’t yet walk into Best Buy and pick up a Copilot+ PC, Apple Intelligence doesn’t roll out to millions of users until the fall, and Android 15 is going wide in the second half of this year. But by January 1, 2025, tens of millions of people will use products where generative AI is just a built-in feature. That’s a huge shift in public perception. It won’t take long for hundreds of millions of users to just expect this to be the way things work, relegating self-selected and paid-for AI as a niche product for hardcore users with particular needs. iOS, MacOS

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Apple doesn’t use your data to train Apple Intelligence; other protections
A research paper explicitly says that Apple doesn’t use your data to train Apple Intelligence. This differs from OpenAI’s policy, which does use your ChatGPT sessions to help train its model. However, Apple says that it does scrape websites for content via Applebot, and website owners must explicitly opt-out if they don’t want this to happen … more…

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iOS 18 solves iCloud's irritating habit of offloading the file you need
It's meant to save space on your device, but iCloud's decisions over what files can be temporarily offloaded can be aggravating — until a new feature in iOS 18 allows you to stop it.Pressing and holding on a document in the Files app now gets you a Keep Downloaded optionEven with only iCloud's miserly 5GB of space, the system will still upload files to the cloud in order to save storage space on devices. It's meant to be an intelligent system that realises this is, for instance, a large file that hasn't been opened in a while.In practice, though, that large file can be the very next thing needed and now it's off your device. At the very least, it's an inconvenience as you wait for it to download, but it can be more of a problem. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Steve Jobs would never have allowed this
Macworld Among Steve Jobs’ many philosophies at Apple was giving customers what they need, not necessarily what they want. He famously said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.” At WWDC this week, Apple gave us a ton of features that were already on the page. Several chapters back, in fact. One of the main features of iOS 18 is a whole new level of customization that permeates the entire interface, from the Home Screen layout to the Lock Screen, icons, and the Control Center. It doesn’t even have a fancy name, it just falls under the umbrella of Customization. iOS 18 literally looks so good! pic.twitter.com/A0yj1Qs4AG— Snazzy Labs (@SnazzyLabs) June 10, 2024 On the surface, it’s all good. Apple users have been clamoring for Android-like customization for years and Apple absolutely delivered it in iOS 18: Put icons anywhere you want on your Home Screen Tint apps with a dark look and adjust the color Hide the names of apps under icons Adjust the size of apps and widgets Add buttons to the Control Center Rearrange and resize Control Center icons and sliders Swap out Lock Screen controls All of these have been on wish lists for years, and for the first time ever, your iPhone is as endlessly customizable as an Android phone, maybe even more so. Out of the box, you can customize the look of your iPhone’s Home Screens in a wide variety of ways—but after seeing what some early beta adopters have made, maybe it’s not such a good idea to give users so many choices. This is not a jailbroken iPhone..This is iOS 18. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/l9BwX9GGGJ— Brandon Butch (@BrandonButch) June 10, 2024 Of course, as with all options, you can ignore whatever you don’t want; but so many options create unnecessary visual chaos and confusion. Where Control Center used to be a controlled list of buttons and sliders, it’s now several pages of options with a somewhat unclear hierarchy.  We’ve been asking for this level of customization on our iPhones for years, but now that we have it, it feels cheap, convoluted, and a little un-Apple-like. It goes back to Steve’s mantra: what you think you want isn’t always what you want. The features that generated the most buzz—iPhone Mirroring, Safari Highlights, Math Notes—aren’t things we knew we wanted, but will likely become part of our workflow. That’s Apple at its best. This other stuff that lets users change the color of icons? Not so much. But that’s how it is these days. Now, Apple tries its best to strike a balance between what users want and what they need, while still delivering delightful and revolutionary features. Tim Cook has delivered some incredible products and continues to carve out new and exciting paths for Apple, most notably with Apple Intelligence, another feature of iOS 18. It’s impossible to imagine what Apple would look like under Steve Jobs in 2024. I’d like to think he’d be on board with Apple Intelligence, Vision Pro, even the many Apple Pencils. But one thing I know for sure—he’d never let us tint our icons. iOS

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Spatial Audio now works over AirPlay with iOS 18
We’re still digging into all the new features coming with iOS 18, which was announced earlier this week at WWDC 2024. We’ve just reported on the update letting users choose their preferred Home Hub, but now there’s another significant change coming, especially for HomePod owners. With iOS 18, users can finally stream Spatial Audio over AirPlay. more…

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Jon Stewart reveals the moment thing went bad with Apple
"The Problem with Jon Stewart" host says that it was over one particular interview that he knew his show was not going to fit in at Apple TV+.'The Problem with Jon Stewart' [Apple TV+]Jon Stewart did originally say that he parted ways with Apple TV+ because the company "didn't want me to say things that might get me in trouble." He later expanded on that to talk about Apple being uncomfortable with a skit about AI.Now in a new interview with the podcast The Town with Matthew Belloni, he says that the split was a long time coming, but there was a specific moment when he realised that the relationship was not going to work. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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This is how long Macs and MacBooks last
Macworld Macs have a high price so it’s understandable that many Mac users will want to put off replacing them for as long as they can. But just how long should you expect a Mac to last? You may also be considering buying a secondhand Mac and wondering how old is too old? For example, is that 2017 MacBook Pro for $300/£300 a good deal, or would you be better off spending a bit more on a newer model? One factor to consider is the age at which most Macs start to experience issues, such as random shutdowns and degraded batteries that no longer hold their charge. Unfortunately, at one point repairing your Mac or MacBook will no longer be a viable option and you will need to look for a replacement. Another issue with aging Macs is that the software you need may not run on it. You may also find that Apple no longer supports the operating system software that runs on that Mac – which could leave you open to malware and security vulnerabilities. In this article, we will address the above, as well as give advice about which Macs are still supported by Apple, the Macs that can still be repaired if required (Apple stops providing the required parts after a number of years), and the Macs that Apple considers obsolete and vintage. Being Vintage means Apple may have the parts available if you wanted to fix the Mac, but once Obsolete Apple will not provide parts if you want to try and fix the machine. When do I need to replace my Mac? There are a few indicators that your Mac has reached the end of its useful life: Apple no longer supports the latest version of the software it runs (which could leave you vulnerable). The apps you need to use no longer run on it. The Mac struggles to perform the tasks you need it to – especially if you can’t update the RAM or any other components. Something breaks and is too expensive to fix, or the parts aren’t available. The Mac is becoming unreliable. Unexpected shutdowns are becoming commonplace and you’ve tried everything to fix the problem to no avail. Which Macs are supported by macOS updates? Only the most recent version of macOS gets feature updates, but Apple usually maintains the last three versions of the macOS with bug fixes and important security updates, ensuring that the latest version of Safari will run, and that Apple Services, such as iCloud, are fully supported This means that Apple will currently provide support for these versions of macOS: macOS Sonoma (macOS 14), macOS Ventura (macOS 13), and Monterey (macOS 12). When Apple introduces macOS Sequoia later in 2024, Monterey will fall off that list and with it Mac from before 2017, and in some cases, 2018. If your Mac is running Sonoma, Ventura or Monterey (for now) you should be able to be confident that Apple will keep an eye on any security vulnerabilities and other problems with these operating systems. However, if your Mac is running an older version of the operating system – macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina or older – you will find yourself out in the cold when it comes to essential updates to Apple’s software. If the software is too old you may also find that your other Apple products aren’t compatible with your Mac. Without the latest security update, you may no longer be able to use Apple Pay or other means to pay for services online, for example. And if you want to sync your iPad or iPhone with your Mac (rather than using iCloud) you will need a recent version of macOS. Since Catalina, syncing is done via the Finder, rather than iTunes. If you can’t run Catalina you will need at least iTunes 12.8.2.3 and at least Mac OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan) or your Mac will not recognize your iPhone or iPad. It’s not just a case of updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS though. Each time Apple updates the Mac operating system more Macs fall off the list of those supported. Read: The latest version of macOS your Mac can run. If your Macs isn’t in the list of supported Macs below, it won’t receive important security updates: Macs that will be supported by macOS Sequoia 2024’s Sequoia will support the following Macs. MacBook Air from 2020 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Which Intel Macs will run macOS Sequoia? Macs supported by macOS Sonoma 2023’s Sonoma supports the following Macs. MacBook Air from 2018 and later MacBook Pro from 2018 and later Mac mini from 2018 and later iMac from 2019 and later iMac Pro from 2017 Mac Pro from 2019 and later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Which Macs run Sonoma? Macs supported by macOS Ventura 2022’s macOS Ventura supports the following Macs: MacBook models from 2017 or later MacBook Air models from 2018 or later MacBook Pro models from 2017 or later Mac mini models from 2018 or later iMac models from 2017 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2019 or later Mac Studio (all models) Read: Can my Mac run Ventura? Macs supported by macOS Monterey 2021’s macOS Monterey supports the following Macs: MacBook models from 2016 or later MacBook Air models from 2015 or later MacBook Pro models from 2015 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac models from autumn 2015 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 or later Read: Can your Mac run Monterey? This means that the oldest Macs supported right now are the 2013 Mac Pro (black cylinder model), the 2014 Mac mini and the 2015 MacBook and and Pro models. But, by the autumn of 2024, when Apple introduces macOS Sequoia, the supported Mac list will be reduced to 2017, and in some cases, 2018 models. So, if you were hoping that your decade-old Mac would still be supported by Apple, prepare to be disappointed. Which Macs aren’t supported by macOS? macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates When Apple introduced Sonoma in 2023 it dropped support for macOS Big Sur. Big Sur, which launched in 2020 supported the following Macs: MacBook models from early 2015 or later MacBook Air models from 2013 or later MacBook Pro models from 2013 or later Mac mini models from 2014 or later iMac models from 2014 or later iMac Pro (all models) Mac Pro models from 2013 or later This means that Apple no longer supports security updates for the 12-inch MacBook introduced in early 2015, the mid-2013 MacBook Air and the early-2014 MacBook Air, late-2013 MacBook Pro and mid-2014 MacBook Pro, or the 2014 iMac. By fall 2024, when Apple introduced Sequoia, it will drop support for macOS Monterey and the list of unsupported Macs will include 2015 and 2016 models. All other Macs that pre-date those mentioned above are no longer supported by Apple’s software updates. Does it matter if my Mac won’t run a supported macOS? Once you cannot update your Mac to run a supported version of macOS you are vulnerable to security breaches, which should obviously be a concern. You may also find that you can’t carry out transactions on the internet if you want to pay for things on your out-of-date Mac. You may also find that the software you need won’t run on your Mac. Apple and other companies stop supporting older versions of the applications they make, so there could be issues with the versions of the software you are running. If you are experiencing random shutdowns, for example, it could be due to problems with an app you are running – problems that will not be addressed by the developer because that version of the app is no longer supported. If you want to run fully supported software then you will need to update to a newer version of macOS – and that may mean that you need to update your Mac. There are workarounds to install a new version of macOS on an old Mac if you need to. Apple supports Macs with operating system updates for approximately eight to ten years, after which time Apple will not support the software and it’s probably a good time to replace your Mac. When do Macs become obsolete? But it’s not just software updates that determine the lifespan of a Mac. It’s also a question of whether it will be possible to fix your Mac should something go wrong with the hardware. Apple has two standards that indicate hardware support is waining: Obsolete or Vintage. The first stage is Vintage: you might be lucky enough to get parts for this Mac, the second is Obsolete: you are out on your own when it comes to any attempt to mend the Mac if it goes wrong. If you look at Apple’s list of Obsolete Macs – those being the Macs that Apple will no longer provide spare parts for – you will see that the company stops providing parts for Macs that it hasn’t sold for more than seven years. In fact, the company may not even provide parts for Macs that haven’t been sold for more than five years (considered Vintage by the company). This could mean that you won’t be able to get a faulty Mac fixed because the parts aren’t available. Obsolete Macs Obsolete Macs are generally Macs that Apple stopped selling more than seven years ago. Once a Mac is in Apple’s obsolete list you have little chance of getting it repaired if something does go wrong. You might be able to find spare parts yourself, but Apple won’t provide them. You’ll find more details about the exact models on Apple’s dedicated page, but the lists below will give you a general idea. As of June 2024, Apple considers the following Macs and older Obsolete: 11-inch MacBook Air (early 2014 and older)  12-inch MacBook (2015) 13-inch MacBook Air (early 2014 and older) 13-inch MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older) 15-inch MacBook Pro (mid 2014 and older) 27-inch iMac (late 2013 and older) 21.5-inch iMac (late 2013 and older) Mac mini (2012 and older) Mac mini Server (2012 and older) Mac Pro (2010 and older) Anything predating the Intel switch, obviously. Vintage Macs Apple also has a list of Vintage Macs. These are Macs that Apple stopped selling between five and seven years ago. (If you live in France where a law means you can get support for spare parts for up to seven years after Apple stops selling a Mac). Apple Authorized Service Providers will repair vintage products for up to seven years, as long as parts are available. Apple lists the following products as being vintage: 12-inch MacBook (2016) 13-inch MacBook Air (2015) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2015, 2016 and 2017) 15-inch MacBook Pro (2015, 2016 and 2017) 21.5-inch iMac (2013 and 2015) 27-inch iMac (2015) Mac Pro (2012) There are some Macs in that list that you might consider quite ‘new’, such as the 2017 MacBook Pro models, or the 5K iMac from 2015, but these are already viewed as Vintage by Apple, and anything older is Obsolete. This certainly suggests that if your Mac is from before 2015 it’s time to look for a new one. And, if you see a 2015 or earlier Mac on sale, it’s not sensible to buy it. Read: Why you shouldn’t buy a second hand Mac. Should I fix my Mac or buy a new one? If your Mac is in the Obsolete category above and something goes wrong with it then you are going to struggle to get the necessary parts if you wanted to attempt to get it fixed as Apple won’t provide the parts. You might be able to buy an old Mac on eBay or similar and scrap if for the parts, but we’d suggest that it really wouldn’t be worth the effort. If your Mac is in the Vintage list then Apple might be able to provide the required parts, but there is no guarantee. If you are lucky enough to get the part an Apple service provider might even be able to fix the Mac for you – but the cost of the work is likely to be prohibitive. You might find that the Mac was included in part of a recall due to the issue you are experiencing, in that case, it might be worth enlisting in a repair program. However, if the time period in which Apple was offering the repairs has passed (which is unfortunately likely) then you will still have to find the money for the repair, which again might be prohibitive. Apple repair programs Apple’s current Mac repair programs include: A recall for 15-inch MacBook Pro units from due to a battery fault 2015-2017 Keyboard services for some Mac laptops bought since 2016 Service programs that have now ended: A 13-inch MacBook Pro backlit service program for models from 2016-2018 A SSD service program for 13in MacBook Pro models from 2017-2018 A battery replacement program for 13in MacBook Pros from 2016-2017 We have more information about Apple’s product recalls and repair programs here. Plus, visit this page for more information on the above repair programs. Assuming your fault isn’t one of those listed above, you may be faced with a pricy repair bill. We suggest that if your Mac is older than five years then repairing it will not be worth it – unless of course there are important documents or photos on it that you want to retrieve in which case it might be worth looking at how to recover these files. Should I update my Mac or buy a new one? This is a similar question to the one above in as much as you will be weighing up whether spending money to improve your Mac might be more savvy than buying a new Mac. There are various ways you might be able to improve your existing Mac, including adding more RAM or changing from a hard drive to a SSD. If you can upgrade the components inside your Mac you may be able to speed it up and make it more capable of doing what you need. See How to upgrade a Mac. However, many Macs can’t be upgraded at all. In recent years Apple has taken to soldering RAM in place and hiding components away to make access impossible (or at least impossible if you don’t want to completely destroy your Mac attempting to get to them). With M-series Macs memory, GPU and CPU are all integrated onto the chip, so it is impossible to upgrade them. Nor can you update the SSD as it is soldered onto the motherboard. That said, there are ways to upgrade your Mac. Read: How to upgrade your M2 Mac mini for ideas. If you decide to buy a new Mac check out our round-ups of the best Mac deals you can get: Best iMac deals Best Mac mini deals Best Mac Studio deals Best MacBook Pro deals Best MacBook Air deals Can I update the RAM in my Mac? If you have one of the following Macs you might be able to update the RAM: MacBook (2008 to 2011 models) MacBook Pro (2009-2012 13in, 2008-2012 15in, all 17-inch models) iMac: The RAM can be updated in the majority of iMacs except for the 21.5in models from Mid-2014 and Late-2015, which had their RAM soldered into place.   Mac mini: (2010-2012 and the 2018 model) Mac Pro: (all models) iMac Pro: RAM isn’t user-accessible, but can be updated at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can’t update the RAM in any MacBook Air models. We explain which Macs have accessible RAM in this article and also look at how to update the RAM. What can I update in my Mac? It may be possible to update other components, including the SSD, hard drive, battery, logic board, hard drive, but this is only possible for a few Macs and the process is only for the expert. If you’d like to try read: How to upgrade a Mac. If you are up for pulling your Mac apart and attempting to upgrade its components then by all means try, but make sure you back it up first and be prepared to admit defeat if it doesn’t go as planned. As for whether it is worth upgrading your Macs RAM or any other component – assuming you can get the parts – rather than buying a new Mac? Perhaps it will buy you a few more years of use. However, we’d be inclined to suggest that if your Mac is older than seven years it really isn’t worth it (and, you’ll notice, the MacBooks that can have their RAM upgraded tend to be older than that). How long do Macs last? So, in answer to the question: How long do Macs last? We’d say five to eight years, but beware that you may not be able to replace any faulty parts in a Mac when more than five years have passed since Apple last sold it. Before you buy a new Mac, read our article about the best time to buy a Mac or MacBook. You may also want to read our Best Mac Buying Guide for help deciding which Mac to buy. We also have a guide to the Best MacBook. Wondering how long Apple supports iPhones and iPads for? Read How long do iPhones last and how long Apple supports iPads for. Mac, MacBook

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Save hundreds on a Matt’s Flights membership and save on all your airfare
Macworld Travel can be incredibly rewarding, but managing the costs can feel like a full-time job. A Matt’s Flights lifetime subscription cuts down on the work by finding the flight deals for you and putting them in your inbox. The Matt’s Flights team scans the flight database relentlessly, looking for deep discounts, pricing errors, and other cheap flights. All you need to do is provide the destination you’re looking for, and you can add as many custom destinations as you like. Once a deal is found, off it goes to your inbox for you to buy. These lifetime memberships are premium accounts, providing five times as many deals as its free members. It also comes with premium travel planning support to help you one-on-one to work out your itinerary, where you’ll stay, and where you’ll go. And since all you need is a web browser, you can take care of your flight shopping anywhere you’ve got an internet connection. Get access to mistake fares and other deals with Matt’s Flights for $79.97, $1720 off the $1800 MSRP.   Matt’s Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) – Save up to 90% on Domestic & International flights – $79.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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Apple @ Work Podcast: How will sideloading apps affect IT teams?
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with Apu Pavithran from Hexnode about the potential risks for Apple IT managers when it comes to sideloading apps on iOS. more…

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Intel-based Macs capable of running macOS Sequoia identified
Apple’s forthcoming macOS Sequoia operating system helps move beyond the company beyond Intel-based processors, and it’s been four years since Apple silicon was introduced, but there are still a number of Intel-based Macs that will be able to run the upcoming operating system. To that point, Apple has published the following macOS Sequoia compatibility list: […] Source

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How to stop Safari from opening links or files when you use a different Mac browser
Macworld Apple is fond of its web browser, Safari, even to the extent that some readers with other preferences find it difficult to consistently get Firefox, Chrome, Opera, or other browsers to open links to web pages in other apps. The first thing to double-check is macOS’s systemwide browser default preference. Go to   > System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Under “Default web browser,” check that your preferred browser is selected. Even if it is, some readers report changing it fixed their link problem: Select Safari. Quit System Settings. Launch System Settings and return to Desktop & Dock. Choose your preferred browser. Quit System Settings. You should be able to set (or reset) a preferred systemwide browser in System Settings. You should be able to set (or reset) a preferred systemwide browser in System Settings.Foundry You should be able to set (or reset) a preferred systemwide browser in System Settings.Foundry Foundry Some people have found that this solves the issue for some of their links and files, but that files in the Finder with the .webloc extension (“Internet location”) became locked to Safari started at least two releases of macOS ago. There doesn’t seem to be an easy solution for this. You can check if that’s the case on your Mac: In the Finder, type webloc into the Search field. Almost certainly, some files with .webloc will appear, as some are created by browsers and stored in caches. Select any one of those files. Choose File > Get Info. If “Open with” is locked to “Safari.app (default),” it will be grayed out and clicking the lock in the lower-right corner and authenticating your user login won’t change it. A workaround for all scenarios involves the third-party app Choosy ($10). The app intercepts links in both apps and web browsers. You can set global behavior or create rules so that links in specific apps or even links to particular websites are opened with a browser you specify. This can be useful if you use a browser that has compatibility issues with a website, which I’ve seen with both health insurance and banking sites where a non-Safari browser is the only way to access your data. Choosy lets you set browser preferences that override macOS behavior, as well as define rules for what browser should be used for very specific purposes. Choosy lets you set browser preferences that override macOS behavior, as well as define rules for what browser should be used for very specific purposes.Foundry Choosy lets you set browser preferences that override macOS behavior, as well as define rules for what browser should be used for very specific purposes.Foundry Foundry This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Dan. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. MacOS

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Apple TV+ shows and movies: Everything to watch on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV+ offers exclusive Apple original TV shows and movies in 4K HDR quality. You can watch across all of your screens and pick up where you left off on any device. Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month. Here’s every Apple original television show and movie available now on Apple TV+, as well as the latest trailers … more…

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Do a deep clean on your Mac with $7 off this optimizing app
Macworld We all want our Mac to run at its best, but it can sometimes seem like keeping that cache and desktop clear is a full time job. Now there’s finally an optimization tool that lets you put your digital “spring cleaning” on a schedule so that you can work worry-free: MacCleanse. This tool is available for a limited time at less than $32, which is a steal for software that does so much. Fire it up, and MacCleanse hunts down junk apps, duplicate documents or other files that are slowing your device down and permanently clears them out. Better still, it can be set to do this on a weekly basis so you can get on with your life. And if you ever switch Macs, you can even use the app to wipe the computer clean so that bad actors don’t get your info. From June 11-17 you can get a lifetime license to MacCleanse for $31.97 (reg. $39.99).   Lifetime License to MacCleanse: Clean Your Mac Fast! – $31.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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WhatsApp video calls are about to get much better
Meta is improving video calling on WhatsApp with 32-person limit across all devices, screen sharing support with audio, and more. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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What's coming soon to tvOS 18, HomeKit, and AirPods
Apple's bento graphic for Audio & Home covers everything from HomeKit to tvOS. Here's a breakdown of that image's feature list.Apple's bento graphic for Audio & HomeApple's bento graphic for Audio & HomeThe bento graphic is an Apple tradition now. It's the company's quick and flashy way to summarize all of the key features of products and services after it finishes presenting them.The Audio & Home bento actually combines features from a variety of hardware and operating systems. It includes elements from tvOS 18, AirPods, and HomeKit, all in a single graphic. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Proposed class action lawsuit accuses Apple of underpaying women
According to a new class action lawsuit in California, Apple allegedly underpaid 12,000 women compared to men despite DEI initiatives.Apple Park is meant to host a diverse and equal workforceGender pay gaps, discrimination, and harassment are all something Apple has said it takes quite seriously. It even launched a dedicated webpage with data available back to 2014 about diversity, though it hasn't been updated since 2022.However, Apple's dedication to gender equality has come under scrutiny with a new class action lawsuit filed in California. According to a report from Reuters, two women who have worked at Apple for over a decade have filed the lawsuit claiming Apple systematically underpays women in engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iOS 18 lets users choose an Apple TV or HomePod as their preferred Home Hub
Apple TV and HomePod owners have the option of setting up these devices as a Home Hub to control HomeKit and Matter accessories remotely. However, while you can set up multiple devices as Home Hubs, there’s no option to choose a specific hub as the main one. But that’s changing with iOS 18 and tvOS 18, which finally give users this option. more…

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iOS 18, visionOS 2, macOS Sequoia and Apple Intelligence event reactions
In this bumper edition, Benjamin and Chance react to everything Apple announced at WWDC 2024, including all the new features in iOS 18, visionOS 2, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and tvOS 18, and the suite of announcements under the banner of Apple Intelligence, as Apple sets its AI strategy.  And in Happy Hour Plus, we have even more thoughts on WWDC and some of the surrounding press interviews taking place this week. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/HAPPYHOUR. Sponsored by iMazing: Discover iMazing 3, the ultimate solution for managing your iPhone and Apple devices with powerful backup options, effortless media transfers, comprehensive message extraction, and Apple Vision Pro support, all in a sleek, redesigned interface. more…

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Here’s how to use automatic window tiling in macOS Sequoia including keyboard shortcuts
macOS Sequoia comes with a simple but very useful new native tool: automatic window tiling. The new feature can be invoked in several different ways and comes with keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to use automatic window tiling in macOS Sequoia. 9to5Mac is brought to you by the all-new iMazing 3. The world’s most trusted app for managing Apple devices from a Mac or PC is now even better. Try it now. more…

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watchOS 11 brings Live Activities to the Apple Watch
As we previously covered, watchOS 11 brings new fitness and health features to the . However, the update also comes with some welcome changes, such as the addition of Live Activities. First introduced with iOS 16, Live Activities are now coming to the Apple Watch with watchOS 11. more…

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