Apple’s global hit series ‘Widow’s Bay’ lands season two renewal
Recently hailed as “better than Martha’s Vineyard,” Widow’s Bay is open for another season. Today, Apple TV announced a season two renewal… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Best compact Mac setups: Big ideas, small spaces
Our roundup of the best compact Mac setups reveals amazingly creative ways for workstations to thrive in tight spaces. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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10 hidden iOS 27 features Apple barely mentioned at WWDC26
Beyond Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, iOS 27 includes plenty of useful hidden features that make your iPhone smarter to use. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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All the Liquid Glass design fixes are in Apple's new Design Resources documents
Developers looking to see just how much design work they have to do to match the revised Liquid Glass with its new app icons, can see every detail in Apple's updated resources library.Every detail of, in this case, the look of macOS Golden Gate is now available for developers to emulate - image credit: AppleJust as it did in 2025 with the launch of Liquid Glass on macOS Tahoe, Apple has now published a comprehensive set of design resources for its main platform updates. Developers can see and use countless buttons, arrows, dialog boxes, and more, so that their apps fit iOS 27 and more.It's in this library of design resources that developers can see details of the new Liquid Glass icons. That includes the new layering effects that Apple showed off with the new icon for its Apple Maps app. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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macOS Golden Gate beta review: it's nothing without Siri AI
Thank goodness for Siri AI, because if the only updates with macOS Golden Gate were the other ones shown at WWDC, this would be the weakest release in history.Apple's macOS Golden Gate really only brings one new feature to the Mac, but it's the mostly superb Siri AI.As it is, the new macOS Golden Gate is a significant and even dramatic update, but solely because of how useful Siri AI is. True, there is more to the update than Apple said, but all it mentioned was a Liquid Glass refinement, improved curves on windows, and a reworking of the sidebar.If that sounds like only an incredibly little difference from macOS Tahoe, it's actually even smaller than you think. That Liquid Glass refinement is a slider to let users control how translucent it is, but it works across such a narrow range that it's not worth bothering with. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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macOS Golden Gate in pictures: 5 design upgrades coming to your Mac
Macworld When macOS Tahoe was released last year, it featured a major graphical makeover of the UI. With the just-announced successor to Tahoe, macOS Golden Gate, Apple is making adjustments to those changes. Why? A lot of it is because of user and developer feedback, while another reason is that Apple may have realized that some of the visual elements needed some fine-tuning. Here are five examples of how Apple changed the way macOS looks in the Golden Gate developer beta. Since this is the very first beta, the company could make further tweaks before the official release this fall. macOS 27 Golden Gate wallpaper The new macOS 27 Golden Gate wallpaper. With every major update of macOS, Apple includes a new wallpaper. You can pick from the light (left) or dark (right) versions, or you can have them switch automatically between the two based on the time of day. Finder sidebar change macOS Tahoe sidebar.Foundry macOS Golden Gate sidebar.Foundry In macOS Tahoe, Apple introduced the “floating” sidebar (top), but Apple is now shading the whole column in macOS Golden Gate (bottom). Apple has also updated the corners of windows so that they’re consistent look throughout the OS. Liquid Glass adjustment A new Liquid Glass setting can be found in System Settings.Foundry In macOS Golden Gate, you can now make the Liquid Glass effect more or less transparent in System Settings > Appearance > Liquid Glass. With the developer beta, you are asked to adjust this setting after the OS installs. Less icon clutter in menus In macOS Tahoe, Apple decided the more icons in menus, the better.Foundry Not every menu item has an icon in macOS Golden Gate.Foundry Apple has decided that not every item needs an icon in its menus, which makes for a cleaner look. Icon tweaks Apple is introducing the ability to add Liquid Glass effects to app icons, so you’ll probably see this effect in upcoming third-party app updates. This is evident in the Maps app icon. But Apple also tweaked the overall look so it’s not as soft and has more contrast. Some Apple app icons have added more outlines and borders. Here are a few examples. Maps: macOS Tahoe (left) and macOS Golden Gate.Apple App Store: macOS Tahoe (left) and macOS Golden Gate.Apple Automator: macOS Tahoe (left) and macOS Golden Gate.Apple FaceTime: macOS Tahoe (left) and macOS Golden Gate.Apple Siri: macOS Tahoe (left) and macOS Golden Gate.Apple

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Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock review: Mac Mini lookalike offers ports and 8TB SSD slot
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 4x Thunderbolt 5 ports Built-in NVMe SSD 140W Power Delivery (PD 3.1) 30W USB-C up front Cute compact size Apple-like aesthetic Cons SSD installation a little fiddly Our Verdict Boasting as many Thunderbolt 5 ports as a single-chip dock can, the Satechi CubeDock is a powerful accessory to help you create the perfect connectivity setup for your system with simple display options and a built-in SSD enclosure, all wrapped up in a cute Mac mini-like shell that’s compact and will work with any modern Mac. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$399.99 Best Prices Today: Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure Retailer Price $399.99 View Deal Satechi $399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The CubeDock is ideal for Mac users who want maximum Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, expandable storage, and a compact Mac mini-style dock. Its standout feature is combining four Thunderbolt 5 ports with a built-in NVMe SSD enclosure supporting up to 8TB. Skip it if you don’t need extra storage, prefer built-in display outputs, or want a cheaper dock. At $399, it offers strong value if you’ll use the SSD slot. I’ve been reviewing a large batch of Thunderbolt 5 docks in recent weeks. The new 80Gbps connection standard has taken over 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 as the mainstay of Mac docking stations. Even if your Mac still packs Thunderbolt 4 ports your next docking station should have Thunderbolt 5 so it’s ready for your next Mac hardware upgrade, and it’s backwards compatible all the way back to USB-C so will work just fine with most older Macs and even the MacBook Neo (although Neo owners, less likely to upgrade in the near future, should consider a USB-C DisplayLink dock to free it from its display limitations). Satechi has brought us some fine Thunderbolt docks and its latest Thunderbolt 5 dock, the CubeDock, looks different to most docks but brings a deep set of top-end ports to greatly expand your MacBook or desktop Mac. Its full name is the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure because it offers a storage capacity option (up to 8TB) as well as 12 ports. You can use the CubeDock with a Mac Studio or MacBook, but it looks so good with its lookalike Mac mini M4.Simon Jary Specs and features One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (80Gbps, 140W) Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports (80Gbps, 15W) 1x USB-C (10Gbps, 30W) 1x USB-C (10Gbps, 7.5W) 1x USB-A (10Gbps, 7.5W) 1x USB-A (10Gbps, 4.5W) M.2 SSD Enclosure (up to 8TB capacity) Ethernet (2.5Gb) UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps) UHS-II microSD card reader (312MBps) 3.5mm combo audio jack (front) 180W power supply Satechi CubeDock on top of Apple Mac mini. Rear ports shown. .Simon Jary Cute it might be, but the CubeDock is seriously powerful too. Thunderbolt 5 offers up to 80Gbps data bandwidth with a unidirectional 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost for video extension. Satechi has avoided the route of many dock makers who sacrifice a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port for a dedicated video ports (either DisplayPort or HDMI). Instead, it gives you the option of choosing how you use each TB5 port as you please. If connecting to Thunderbolt or USB-C monitors this needs just a decent Thunderbolt or even USB-C data cable, but if your chosen display requires DisplayPort or HDMI you’ll need to add a competent adapter cable at your own expense. This approach might require extra cables, but enough modern monitors can be connected via USB-C to make it a more flexible setup than one where the dock maker has decided you might be using a specific monitor connection. The front USB-C port can fast-charge an iPad or iPhone at 30W, and a couple of devices at a slower 15W (Thunderbolt) or 7.5W (USB-C or USB-A) from the back ports. The connected MacBook has 140W at its disposal, with the proviso that max power output is 180W.Satechi There are two additional USB-C ports: the one at the front supports up to 30W power output, which is enough to fast-charge an iPhone or iPad or even just enough to recharge a MacBook. Each of the downstream TB5 ports can supply 15W of power, bearing in mind that the maximum power of the dock is 180W. If you are connecting a MacBook as the host, the CubeDock can supply up to 140W of power (PD 3.1) that is enough to fast-charge the top-end 16-inch MacBook Pro. The included Thunderbolt 5 cable will handle all the data and charging needs between MacBook and dock. The upstream Thunderbolt 5 port is at the left, with the three downstream TB5 ports right alongside it at the back of the dock.Simon Jary Dinky design The most striking aspect of Satechi’s new Thunderbolt 5 docking station is its size and shape that mirrors that of Apple’s diminutive Mac mini desktop Mac. More specifically, it mimics the M4 version of the Mac mini that Apple launched in November 2024. The previous Mac mini was small but nowhere near as compact as the M4 Mac mini, which is expected to remain the same dimensions when the M5 (or maybe M6 if the mini isn’t updated until later this year or early 2027) is released. The CubeDock is almost exactly the same size as the Mac mini, with a marginal 0.04 inch (2mm) difference in height. Its base is square but, despite its name, it’s no cube—being less than half as high as it is either long or wide. Strictly it’s a square prism, but SquarePrismDock doesn’t sound as cute. And the CubeDock is cute. Maybe it should be called the CuteDock. CubeDock: Length: 5 inches (127mm) Width: 5 inches (127mm) Height: 2.04 inches (52mm) Weight: 1.3lbs (589g) Mac mini: Length: 5 inches (127mm) Width: 5 inches (127mm) Height: 2 inches (50mm) Weight: 1.48lbs (670g) The silver finish of Mac mini and CubeDock is the same so these two look perfect together, although the CubeDock will work with any modern Mac, be that a Mac mini, Mac Studio or MacBook. Indeed, it will work with Windows computers, too. The Mac Studio is still the same size as the old Mac mini: 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 inches (197 x 197 x 95mm) so you can’t balance the CubeDock on top or below the pro-level Mac desktop. But you can top or tail the CubeDock with the Mac mini M4 as you please, or just place them side by side. Some similar docks feature more of a cut-out to allow easier access to the Mac mini’s underbelly power button, but not the CubeDock if you place the mini on top. Remember that the CubeDock works with any Mac, not just its lookalike Mac mini M4. The Satechi CubeDock sitting atop Apple’s Mac mini M4. Front ports are shown here.Simon Jary Buy the Satechi CubeDock if you need more Mac storage plus a bunch of fast ports. It works with any modern Mac but will woo Mac mini owners with its compact silvery doppelganger looks. What display setups can it handle? The CubeDock supports up to three external displays via its Thunderbolt 5 ports, depending on your Mac. Thunderbolt, USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort monitors are supported, though HDMI and DisplayPort displays require adapter cables. One of the key functions of a docking station is to add external screens to the host computer. How many and at what resolutions depends on the processor of your Mac. You use the three Thunderbolt 5 ports to connect the displays. Thunderbolt/USB-C displays require a simple video-ready USB-C cable, but HDMI and DisplayPort monitors will require adapter cables. If you prefer DisplayPort, then the CalDigit TS5+ docking station loses one TB5 port for a DisplayPort, and the Plugable TBT-UDH2 Dock takes two TB5 out to provide two HDMI 2.1 ports. Satechi All M-series Macs can connect to a single display up to 6K@60Hz (8K@144Hz on Windows). Any Mac with a Pro or Max processor or a base M3/M4/M5 chip can support dual displays up to 6K@60Hz each (8K@120Hz each on Windows). Triple displays up to 6K@60Hz each are possible on Macs with an M5 Pro or Max (or 8K with compatible Windows PCs). Over Thunderbolt specifically, 8K is largely an M5-generation capability—the whole M5 family handles it, with the M5 Max being the only laptop that drives two 8K displays at once. The two cross-generation exceptions are the Mac mini (M4 and M4 Pro), which does single 8K over Thunderbolt, and the M3 Ultra Mac Studio, which does multiple. (It’s worth noting here that the M4 and M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro and the M4 Max Mac Studio can all drive an 8K display, but only over their HDMI port—their Thunderbolt outputs top out at 6K/60Hz.) If you require three or four displays and don’t own a Mac with a top-end M5 Pro/Max, look for one of the best DisplayLink docks we have tested. These require an extra software installation and come with a few compromises but free you up from Apple’s self-inflicted display technical limitations. Simon Jary How much storage can you add? Underneath the dock there’s a hatch that when removed reveals a slot for an SSD drive. It supports 2280 and shorter 2230/2242/2260 M.2 NVMe SSD sizes (PCIe 4×4), and delivers up to 6000MBps in data transfer speed. Having a built-in NVMe SSD slot is much neater than having an SSD enclosure hanging off your computer and taking up a valuable port on your Mac. Simon Jary Satechi has included a handy SSD installation guide right there in the dock packaging. It is a little fiddly with the tiny screw when adding the card before tightening. Everything else is simple, so it can be frustrating when the screw is in the way or trying to get it back in if you remove it using the included mini screwdriver. Installing an SSD card into the similar but less cute Ugreen Thunderbolt 5 Maxidok was easier with a larger screw and screwdriver. A full toolless installation would be ideal. The slot supports up to 8TB, which should be plenty for most users but comes at a high price at today’s storage prices. Scanning Amazon’s SSD prices, here are the average prices we found for an internal M.2 NVMe SSD at the time of writing (note that storage prices can be volatile): 1TB: $175 2TB: $250 4TB: $450 8TB: $1,500 But, hey, if you need it you’re going to have to pay for it! It’s great for Time Machine backups or video projects—whatever takes up all the space on your Mac. If you were adding a similar storage capacity to a MacBook Pro at the time of purchase, 2TB would add $400 via Apple, 4TB $1,000, and 8TB $3,200. You can see that adding it post purchase is. Much more economical, and flexible if you later need more. Simon Jary The SSD just shows up like an extra disk on your Mac. Testing with a Samsung 9100 Pro 2TB SSD and a Thunderbolt 5 M4 Pro mini we achieved speeds of 5800MBps on the read and write, but plugging in two Apple Studio Displays dropped the speed to a still impressive 5100MBps. In comparison, an M4 mini with Thunderbolt 4 reached only 1400MBps with the Studio Displays connected. That Thunderbolt 5 connection really comes into its own if your Mac is similarly equipped of course. Note that the more devices you have plugged into the dock, the SSD’s data-transfer speed can be throttled, but that’s true of most docks with enclosures. The SSD enclosure includes an active cooling fan to filter air through the dock. This isn’t at all noisy but if you require absolute silence you might look for a different enclosure that is noiseless. Definitely quiet are the front-facing SD and MicroSD card readers that offer even more affordable and ultra-portable storage options. A 1TB MicroSD card costs around $150 (at the time of writing) depending on speed. The CubeDock’s card readers support fast 312MBps UHS-II 4.0 storage cards. Fast network With a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, the CubeDock is ready for networks faster than the standard 1Gb Gigabit Ethernet. If you’re on a 10GbE network, you can add an adapter or choose a dock such as the CalDigit TS5 Plus or Sonnet Echo 21 Thunderbolt 5 SuperDock. The SuperDock also features an SSD enclosure like the CubeDock (plus a bunch more ports) but comes in at $499, a hundred bucks more than the Satechi. If you prefer you could place the CubeDock below your Mac mini. It can be used with any Mac, of course. It just looks so neat with the M4 mini.Simon Jary What features or accessories are missing? The CubeDock doesn’t include an SSD, so storage must be purchased separately and installed manually. There’s no dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort port, requiring adapters for some monitors, and international buyers may need a local C5 power cable. Is the CubeDock worth its $399 price? The Satechi CubeDock is priced at $399.99. As I write, it is not available outside of North America in local currencies but you can get it shipped to the U.K., for instance, for an extra $30. You will need to buy a grounded C5 power cable (the one with a cloverleaf connector) with the correct plug for the country where it will be used. It is also available on Amazon US and Amazon Canada. While you can buy Thunderbolt 5 docking stations for around $300, if you add a Thunderbolt 5 SSD enclosure like Satechi’s own DotDisk 80Gbps SSD Enclosure, that will add another $200, so the $399 price of the CubeDock makes a lot of sense if you need the SSD slot. See our reviews and comparisons of the other best Thunderbolt docking stations. Should you buy the Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure Boasting as many Thunderbolt 5 ports as a single-chip dock can, the Satechi CubeDock is a powerful accessory to help you create the perfect connectivity setup for your system with simple display options and a built-in SSD enclosure, all wrapped up in a cute Mac mini-like shell that’s compact and will work with any modern Mac.

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Alogic Aspekt 4K Touch Review: A flexible 32-inch docking display with a clever Mac mini twist
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Gorgeous 4K 60Hz touchscreen 32-inch screen size Fine color accuracy Cheaper than Apple Studio Displays Flexible fold Stand Omni Stand option for Mac mini M4 owners Cons 6K Touch has more pixels Our Verdict While the same company’s Clarity 6K Touch offers more pixels and greater color accuracy, the Aspekt 4K Touch is a gorgeous touchscreen with flexible stand that will still suit most creative professionals. Mac mini owners will swoon for the optional Omni Stand’s special cradle. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When ReviewedFrom £2,148.99 Best Prices Today: Alogic Aspekt 32-inch 4K Docking Monitor Retailer Price Alogic $2148.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Aspekt 4K Touch is ideal for creative professionals who want a large 32-inch touchscreen, excellent color accuracy, and a built-in docking solution without paying 6K prices. It suits photographers, designers, illustrators, videographers, and Mac users who value flexibility, connectivity, and an innovative folding stand design. Professional photographers, video editors, colorists, and designers who need maximum detail, 6K resolution, near-perfect color accuracy, and the sharpest touchscreen experience will prefer the Clarity 6K Touch (reviewed separately). Alogic is a pioneer of touchscreen displays for the Mac, launching the world’s first 5K and recently 6K touchscreen monitors. The company has now released a whole new range of monitors that includes two new touchscreens. The Aspekt Monitor range includes 32-inch and 34-inch touchscreen models, as well as a 32-inch non-touch display. The Aspekt 4K Touch is designed as a newer “all-in-one docking workstation monitor,” while the Clarity Touch lineup is focused more on colour-accurate creative work and conferencing. The “docking workstation” refers to the able hub at the back (and one side) of the Aspekt, where you’ll find a row of ports. It’s more than just a USB hub, as it includes an Ethernet network port and decent device-charging options. The Aspekt 4K Touch is 32-inch a 4K display with touchscreen functionality, with multitouch gestures and 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels. Mac mini M4 owners will be particularly interested in the neat cradle in its optional Omni Stand that carries the mini without hampering the stand’s folding flexibility and gives you some tidy desk space back. It’s a lovely, ahem, touch for Mac mini owners. If you own a MacBook or other Mac you can choose between a standard height-adjustable stand or a cradle-less Fold Stand. Simon Jary What’s different between the Aspekt 4K Touch and Clarity 6K Touch? Alogic recently introduced the Clarity 6K Touch 32-inch Monitor, and we’ve now tested this similar Aspekt Touch 32-inch 4K UHD Docking Monitor. First, we should look at what differentiates the Clarity 6K Touch and the Aspekt Touch. The most obvious difference is right there in the names. The Clarity 6K has a higher pixel resolution than the 4K Aspekt: read our full Alogic Clarity 6K Touch review. The Clarity monitor range has been around since 2022, every year introducing new models with higher resolutions and new features such as touchscreens and smart webcams in a variety of screen sizes. The Alogic Aspekt has many similarities with its higher-resolution sibling, the Clarity 6K Touch shown here. Alogic The Aspekt 4K Touch has excellent color accuracy, with 97% DCI-P3, 93% Adobe RGB and 100% sRGB. Its Delta E rating is under 2, which means it shows only minor differences, and probably visible only to a trained eye. It’s not as great as the Clarity’s

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Siri AI passed my Taylor Swift superfan test with flying colors
Macworld As you already know by now, iOS 27 comes with a new version of Siri that’s built entirely on a new AI foundation. And this has finally unleashed the potential of Apple’s virtual assistant, since it’s no longer limited to answering trivial questions or performing basic tasks like setting timers or creating reminders. The new Siri is more context-aware than ever. It can read through your emails, calendar events, files, messages, and more to provide you with the best answers. And thanks to advanced AI models, you can talk to it using natural language. That’s all impressive on paper, but it’s another thing to start using it. I already have early access to Siri AI thanks to the iOS 27 developer beta, and I’ve tried out some pretty specific commands. And almost immediately, I was able to use the new Siri to do things I couldn’t before. Putting Siri to the test Of course, the old version of Siri has long been able to play songs on Apple Music, but the commands are quite limited. You can ask for things like “play this song” or “play songs by this artist,” but nothing too complicated. That’s changing with the new Siri AI. Siri AI now has an extensive knowledge base to find song, artist, and album information that might not be in Apple Music’s metadata. It’s LLM can also use reasoning to understand more complex queries and add songs to my Apple Music queue. That means I shouldn’t need to manually create my own playlist or filter the songs I want to listen to. I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan, and I love listening to the setlist from The Eras Tour, which is already a playlist on Apple Music. But I wanted to put Siri to the test to see how much it could do inside Apple Music. Siri Ai was able understand a complicated question about Taylor Swift’s music in natural language and deliver accurate results.Foundry I started by asking Siri, “Play songs from the Lover album that were part of the The Eras Tour setlist.” This is more complicated than it sounds and way too advanced for the old Siri. For one, Swift went through several incarnations of the Eras Tour, including removing one of the “Lover” songs from the setlist midway through the tour, and for another, she has several variations of the “Lover” album. But Siri was able to quickly identify all five “Lover” songs that were played during the tour’s main setlist (not including acoustic tracks). Then I asked it to add those songs to a playlist on Apple Music, which it did. Apple Music already has a feature called Playlist Playground for creating playlists with AI, but being able to do this on the fly with specific voice commands changes everything. It’s a stark difference from the old Siri, which often plays the wrong songs on my HomePod. Siri’s knowledge base is current enough to know Taylor Swift was at the Knicks game less than 24 hours ago.Foundry I didn’t stop there. To put Siri’s knowledge of all things Taylor Swift to the test, I also asked some pretty specific questions, like “What did Taylor Swift do this week?” Siri AI gave me the right answer. It knew she attended the NBA Finals in New York the night before and that she had released a new song last week for the “Toy Story 5” soundtrack. Siri even knew what she was wearing: “a blue T-shirt with “Stevie Knicks” printed in orange lettering—a playful mashup of Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks and the New York Knicks. She paired the shirt with black Area slit jeans and wore her hair pulled back in a braid adorned with a blue ribbon.” Not enough to prove Siri’s a real Swiftie? I asked Siri what surprise acoustic songs Taylor performed on the second night of The Eras Tour in São Paulo, the show I attended. Not only did it get the songs correct, but Siri was also able to find and play both songs on Apple Music. Of course, Siri AI is still in beta, and it will likely remain that way for a while, possibly even after the first general release arrives later this year. But the results are already quite impressive for a first beta, and it shows that Apple has finally succeeded in delivering the new AI-powered Siri it promised back in 2024. Siri AI will be available on all devices compatible with Apple Intelligence, which means the iPhone 15 Pro or later, or an iPad or Mac with the M1 chip or later. The iOS 27 update will be available to the public this fall.

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This $13 Windows 11 Pro upgrade includes Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant
Macworld TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $12.97 (reg. $199) and includes lifetime access, built-in AI tools, gaming upgrades, stronger security, and professional-level productivity features. A surprising amount of computer frustration starts with outdated software. That’s partly why this Windows 11 Pro deal feels less like an impulse buy and more like basic maintenance for a PC people already use every day. Windows 11 Pro is currently down to $12.97 (reg. $199) for a lifetime license tied to one compatible PC. No subscription, no recurring fees, and no “premium tier” upsell waiting later. This is the full Pro version, too, which adds features beyond standard Windows 11 Home. You get BitLocker encryption for protecting files, Hyper-V virtual machines, Windows Sandbox for safely testing apps, and Azure AD support for business and work environments. https://youtube.com/watch?v=5aCbWqKl-wU%3Ffeature%3Doembed The newer AI features are also surprisingly useful. Microsoft Copilot sits directly in the taskbar and can summarize content, answer questions, generate text, help with coding, and generally act like an AI sidekick built into the operating system itself. Outside of AI, Windows 11 Pro adds better multitasking with Snap layouts, stronger biometric security through TPM 2.0, and DirectX 12 Ultimate support for gaming performance. Get Windows 11 Pro while it’s just $12.97 (reg. $199). Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Save $300 on Apple's M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 48GB RAM this weekend
Save $300 on Apple's 2026 14-inch MacBook Pro with an upgrade to the M5 Pro 18C CPU/20C GPU chip and boost to 48GB RAM. This flash deal ends Sunday.Save $300 on Apple's latest MacBook Pro with 48GB RAM this weekend - Image credit: AppleDespite being released only three months ago, Apple's M5 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro is already marked down heavily during B&H's weekend sale. Save $300 on this M5 Pro model that has an 18-core CPU/20-core GPU chip, an upgrade from the standard 15-core CPU/16-core GPU combo.Save $300 on 14" MacBook Pro 48GB RAM Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple’s new Foundation Models explained: on-device AI, cloud AI, and everything in between
During the WWDC26 keynote, Apple announced its third generation of Apple Foundation Models (AFM), comprising five models, some of which are local, some of which are cloud-based, and one of which lives in Google’s servers running on Nvidia chips. Here’s a breakdown of how that will work.

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9to5Mac Daily: June 11, 2026 – visionOS 27 features, more
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $200 Savings Card.

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iOS 27 finally fixes the Messages app’s most annoying buttons
From the dictation button problem to Apple Intelligence, iOS 27 brings one of the biggest Messages app upgrades in years. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Strava expands hiking tools with better maps, route planning, and trail navigation
Strava improved on its hiking toolset today with new route-planning, navigation, and sharing tools, including a welcome addition to its Apple Watch app. Here are the details.

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Apple TV renews comedy horror Widow’s Bay for a second season
As widely expected, Apple TV announced today that Widow’s Bay will be returning for a second season. Here are the details.

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WWDC 2026 recap, iOS 27, new Siri and more officially announced
It’s the bumper annual WWDC episode! Benjamin and Chance give their first impressions of all the announcements from WWDC 2026, including the new Siri AI and overhauled Apple Intelligence initiatives, as well as the platform features in iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and more.  And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance gives some insight from his time at Apple Park, and how Apple is trending closer to a live event format once again. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by Shopify: See less carts go abandoned and more sales. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by Quince: Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Visit quince.com/happyhour for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Sponsored by Framer: The only free design tool that brings your ideas to the web. Visit framer.com/happyhour for 30% off a Framer Pro annual plan.

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macOS 27 Golden Gate is last update to support Intel apps
With Apple pulling the plug on Rosetta 2 next year, macOS 27 will be the last update to run Intel apps, marking the end of an era. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Study Links Smartphones With Declining Fertility Rates
Two recent studies argue that smartphones may have contributed to falling birthrates by reducing in-person social interaction, sexual frequency, and other conditions tied to unintended pregnancies. "One of the studies published in May is called 'The Collapse of Teen Fertility in the Digital Era' and the other, published just Monday, is titled 'Is the iPhone Birth Control? Causal Evidence from AT&T's 2007-2011 Carrier Monopoly,'" reports KTLA. "Both were chronicled in a New York Times piece by political writer Sabrina Tavernise on Monday." Slashdot reader sabbede submitted the story. From the report: The one from May, authored by two University of Cincinnati professors, posits that teen fertility "collapsed globally" starting around 2007 -- the same year the first iPhone was released. "Smart phones changed how teens spend time with each other ... this change in turn drove the collapse in teen fertility," the study's abstract reads. "Once enough teens are on the phone, being on the phone is where the peer network is; in-person time falls sharply, and with it the unstructured contact in which most unintended teen conceptions occur." The study claimed that countries "across the income and policy spectrum" were affected by the teen fertility drop, and that researchers used data from multiple countries, including the U.S., England and Wales, to rule out "country-specific contraceptive access and welfare reform stories." "This model predicts that the shift towards the phone-mediated equilibrium affects multiple aspects of teen behavior," the abstract continues, concluding that "the same instrument that produces a collapse in teen fertility produces a surge in teen suicides." The study published on Monday looks more closely at the United States, explaining that nationwide general fertility rates have fallen 22% since 2007. "[This is] a sustained decline not readily explained by economic conditions, contraceptive use, housing or childcare costs, or other commonly cited factors," the National Bureau of Economic Researchers study states. "We assess the potential role of a different shock: the diffusion of the smartphone." As mentioned before, the first iPhone was rolled out in 2007, and this study makes use of that timeframe as "a natural experiment" by using data from 2007 through 2011, when iPhones were only sold on AT&T. "From June 2007 through February 2011, the device was sold only on AT&T, allowing us to identify its effect from variation in AT&T's mobile broadband coverage," the study says. "Entropy-balanced Poisson and synthetic difference-in-differences event studies imply that access to the iPhone reduced births by 4.5-8.0% at ages 15-19 and 3.2-6.6% at ages 20-24, with statistically significant but smaller declines among older cohorts. Placebo analyses applied to Verizon and Sprint's pre-2011 coverage footprint are null. Taken together, these cohort effects imply that the diffusion of the iPhone deepened the decline in births among women under 30 while suppressing the rise in births among older women." "Overall, the diffusion of the iPhone explains 33-52% of the decline in the general fertility rate among women aged 15-44," researchers continued. "National-survey evidence on time use and sexual behavior is consistent with the iPhone reducing in-person interactions, increasing pornography use and reducing sexual frequency." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce bill to limit Big Tech gatekeeping, Apple shoots back
After a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) today, reviving an effort that could have major implications for Big Tech if enacted into law, Apple issued a strong rebuttal of the proposal. Here are the details.

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