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- Tuesday December 02
- 04:41 pmSecurity researcher fumes at low macOS bug bounty awards
A security researcher has complained about reduced payments from discovered macOS flaws by Apple's bug bounty program, despite Apple raising the maximum for more high-profile rewards.Apple's lock icon, its symbol for privacy — image credit: AppleIn October, Apple said that the payouts in its Security Bounty program will increase considerably in November. While the bounties for some high-profile exploit chains have grown to as high as $2 million, complaints are being raised about other awards for some macOS categories.In a post to LinkedIn, IRU macOS security researcher Csaba Fitzl claims that the Apple Security Bounty "devalued" macOS. The devaluing is apparently demonstrated by the lowering of awards for disclosing some specific bypasses. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums04:31 pmThe home office Apple device I can’t live without is the one you’d least expect
Macworld When I started working from home full-time, one thing became immediately clear: I needed more space—screen space that is. I’ve always worked better on bigger displays, and once my home became my office, having the best display possible shifted from preference to necessity. That’s what pushed me toward the Apple Studio Display, and it’s no exaggeration to say it completely reshaped the way I work. The 27-inch, 5K Retina panel is exactly the kind of canvas macOS deserves. Text is crisp, UI elements are perfectly scaled, and there’s enough room to keep multiple windows open. For writing, researching, editing, and multitasking, the difference is dramatic. I simply get more done when I can see more at once. A display that doubles as a desktop hub But the Studio Display isn’t just a monitor, it’s the core of my entire setup. Its 600-nit brightness, P3 color gamut, and Apple’s signature color accuracy make everything look clean and consistent. The Apple Studio Display is also an all-in-one hub for all of my accessories.Foundry Then there’s the bonus that it doubles as a USB-C hub, which makes cable management almost nonexistent. One Thunderbolt cable connects my MacBook Pro to the Studio Display, and everything from peripherals, charging, audio, camera, and microphone runs through that single link. The three additional USB-C ports on the back are a huge convenience I didn’t expect to rely on as much as I do. Built-in perks that actually matter Typically, when you think of an external monitor, the display is pretty much the only thing that comes to mind. But the Studio Display has so much more to offer. The 12MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage keeps me perfectly framed during video calls without needing an external webcam. The three-mic array is more than good enough for meetings, and the six-speaker system is shockingly rich, easily the best audio I’ve heard from a display. The audio sounds more immersive than what you get from a HomePod mini. All these extras matter when your display is also your work tool. It’s one less thing to buy and one less thing cluttering the desk. My Apple Studio display keeps my desk free of clutter and my eyes free from strain.Foundry Basically an iMac, powered by a MacBook To complete the setup, I use a Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse, giving me a clean, iMac-like experience, but with the power and flexibility of my MacBook Pro behind it. The seamless integration between all these devices makes the Studio Display feel like a natural extension of macOS, not just a screen attached to a laptop. Rumors say a new Studio Display could arrive next year, and I’m always curious to see what Apple improves. But even knowing that, I have zero desire to upgrade my current Studio Display. This was one of the best purchases I’ve made for my home office. For my workflow, my comfort, and my productivity, the Studio Display isn’t just part of my WFH setup. It is the setup.04:21 pmApple debuts ‘I’m Not Remarkable’ ad focused on accessibility features for students | Mac Daily NewsApple debuts ‘I’m Not Remarkable’ ad focused on accessibility features for students
Apple today released a new ad, “I’m Not Remarkable,” that puts the spotlight on the company’s accessibility features across iPhone, iPad, Mac… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.04:17 pmThe Apple Watch SE 3 is still on sale for its all-time best price of $199
Macworld The Apple Watch SE 3 is already Apple’s best smartwatch value, so when it dropped by 20 percent over the Black Friday-Cyber Monday extravaganza, it became an instant buy. And we can’t believe it’s still around: Over at Amazon, you can snag an Apple Watch SE 3 for $199, an absolutely fantastic savings of $50. Whether you’re diving into the Apple Watch ecosystem for the first time or upgrading from an older model, the Apple Watch SE3 is a standout entry-level model. When we reviewed this watch in October, we gave it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, and recommended it over the Series 11. We loved how lightweight it is, has a comfortable design, an always-on display, and impressive battery life. Plus, it’s filled to the brim with health sensors and life-saving features. For instance, it doesn’t just track your movements and workouts; it also detects falls and car crashes and can connect you to emergency services or your contacts. Plus, it can alert you to high and low heart rate, irregular rhythms, and sleep apnea. At $199, the Apple Watch SE3 is an absolute steal, so grab one sooner rather than later because this deal will definitely not stick around forever. Buy now at Amazon04:01 pmMellel 6.5.5
Collects controls to adjust the user interface appearance and customize colors in a new Appearance tab in Settings. ($69.99 new, free update, 107.6 MB, macOS 10.13+)04:00 pmToday in Apple history: QuickTime brings video to the masses
On December 2, 1991, Apple shipped its first public version of QuickTime, bringing video to Mac users running System 7. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)03:42 pmAnother iPhone 17 model is coming early next year, three new features rumored
Apple is rumored to have one more iPhone 17 model launching soon in early 2026: the iPhone 17e, which will offer an iPhone 17-like experience at a lower price. Here are three new rumored features that will give it an edge over its predecessor, the iPhone 16e. more…03:34 pmHow to check Apple Music Replay 2025 and share your year
As 2025 winds down, the annual Apple Music Replay gives you an easy way to look back at your top artists, songs, and monthly listening trends. Here's how to see it and share it.Apple Music Replay 2025If you're an Apple Music subscriber, chances are you listen to a lot of music over the year. That's why Apple Music has a feature, known as Replay, which allows you to see your top artists and songs.Replay doesn't just keep track of your yearly listening habits, either. It updates monthly, allowing you to see your top picks for each month. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums03:20 pmApple faces class action threats after top EU court ruling
Apple's App Store faces the prospect of additional class-action-style damages claims in the European Union after the bloc's highest court… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.03:03 pmNomad Stand One & Max 25W Wireless Charging Station review: Solid, fast and classy
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Fast 25W for iPhone Solid classy looking stand 3-in-1 charging option (Stand One Max) Cons Premium price iPhone stand is not adjustable Requires wall charger Our Verdict The Nomad Stand One is a statement piece on any desk, oozing Apple vibes in its solid metal and glass Construction and at 25W reaching the latest and fastest iPhone charging rate. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$119 Best Prices Today: Nomad Stand One Retailer Price Nomad $119 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket From innovative cables and classic Watch bands to premium iPhone cases and design-conscious charging devices, Nomad offers a range of classy tech accessories that should match every Apple user’s aspiration. The company has updated its Stand One wireless iPhone charger to the latest Qi2 25W (Qi 2.2) tech standard to keep its range up to date. It follows similar 25W launches from the likes of Belkin, Anker, Baseus and ESR. Note that Qi2 25W is supported only by the iPhone 16 or later. Older iPhones (12-15) will still power up via the chargers but at 15W, which is still significantly faster than the cheaper 7.5W merely MagSafe-compatible chargers. Nomad offers two models: the basic Stand One, a 2-in-1 iPhone and AirPods charging stand; and the Stand One Max, a horizontal 3-in-1 charging pad for iPhone, AirPods and Watch. These are the fourth generation of this classic design. Simon Jary Nomad Stand One: 2-in-1 wireless charger The Nomad Stand One is a sleek yet reassuringly heavy 2-in-1 charging stand for iPhone and AirPods. It is crafted from metal and glass and looks good enough to grace the Genius Bar desk at an Apple Store. The chassis is solid metal with a premium glass panel and anti-slip rubber base. The magnetic wireless charging is possible with any iPhone from the model 12 onwards, with the strange exception of the iPhone 16e. The AirPods 5W Qi charging dish sits hidden behind the iPhone stand, supporting any wireless charging-enabled AirPods case. Measuring 5 x 3.3 x 2.7 inches (12.7 x 8.3 x 6.9cm) it’s compact but not particularly portable as it weighs a 1.3lbs (575g). There are much lighter 2-in-1 stands but one of the selling of the Stand One is exactly this paperweight-like status as a sturdy desk stand. Simon Jary In our tests, the 25W Stand One lived up to expectations with a 50% charge time of 36 minutes. That’s a little over the very best we’ve seen (28 minutes) and the average 33 minutes, but certainly faster than the 45-50 minutes it takes a 15W charger – including the previous third-generation Stand One – to do the same. We test to 50% as after that level charging tends to slow as safeguards start to limit the amount of juice flowing into the phone to protect its battery from overheating. Overheating is something of a risk for the most capable devices as 25W generates a fair temperature at full pelt. To reduce this temperature some 25W wireless chargers include active cooling but the Stand One boasts no fan. The company claims that the stand’s metal structure effectively acts as a heatsink, so eliminating the need for a fan. This keeps it completely silent. The stand is solid and unmoving in terms of adjustability. Nomad calls the Stand One’s 21º viewing angle “perfect” but if you like to wiggle your phone into a position that suits you better, you must look elsewhere at other charging stands. The iPhone can sit in either portrait or landscape orientation and works with Apple’s StandBy mode for clock or photo viewing. Simon Jary Nomad Stand One Max: 3-in-1 wireless charger The Nomad Stand One Max takes the Stand One design and turns it into a horizontal pad style that measures 3.2 x 6.3 x 5 inches (8.2 x 16.1 x 12.8cm). Again, it’s reliably sturdy, weighing nearly 2lbs (just under 1kg). It features the same upright 21-degree 25W wireless iPhone charging stand, but with the AirPods pad placed next to it rather than behind, and a rigid Apple Watch at the other end for fast charging. Any version of the Apple Watch is supported. None of the charging pads are adjustable. As with the 2-in-1 Stand One, Nomad reckons its viewing angle is ideal, and having the Apple Watch charger moving around would not be a great idea as the magnetic connection is not as firm as with the iPhone. Nomad Two models in two colors Both Stand One and Stand One Max are available in either a silver & white color or black (which Nomad calls “Carbide”). Each comes with a decent length 6.6ft (2m) color-matched braided nylon cable, but don’t not ship with the required 40W or higher USB-C wall charger. Price The Nomad Stand One costs $119 / £99 and the Stand One Max $159 / £139. For Apple-like chic you pay Apple prices. As with Apple and its iPhone, there’s no USB-C wall charger included in the box for, ahem, environmental reasons (although there is a matching cable), so if you don’t have a spare charger you’ll need to invest in one of 40W or greater power. Check our recommendations for the best USB-C chargers. You can certainly buy cheaper but here you are paying for something with a little more class than most. Check out more options in our best MagSafe charger and best Apple Watch charger roundups. Simon Jary Should you buy the 25W Nomad Stand One or Stand One Max? The Nomad Stand One is a statement piece on any desk, oozing Apple vibes in its solid metal and glass construction and at 25W reaching the latest and fastest iPhone charging rate.02:57 pmApple shares fun music video highlighting great accessibility features for college
Apple’s latest accessibility-focused short film is actually a really enjoyable music video for the song “I’m Not Remarkable” by Kittyy & The Class. It’s also an excellent way to showcase Apple’s extensive range of accessibility features integrated into iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices. These features can significantly enhance the college experience for all students. more…02:55 pmYouTube ‘Recap’ is like Spotify Wrapped for videos, starts rolling out today
YouTube is listening to feedback and officially launching “Recap,” its own take on Spotify’s popular Wrapped, which will walk you through a recap of your past year using the platform. more…02:51 pmApple security bounties slashed as Mac malware grows
A well-known security researcher reports that Apple has slashed its bounties for finding vulnerabilities in macOS. Many have been halved, with one of them reduced from over $30k to just $5k, despite a growing problem with Mac malware. Csaba Fitzl, principal macOS security researcher at Iru, says it suggests Apple doesn’t really care about the Mac, and increases the likelihood that vulnerabilities will be sold on the black market instead of reported to the company … more…02:50 pmHow to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas for free
The classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is free for all to stream later this month, whether you’re an Apple TV+ subscriber or not. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:39 pmApple Music’s top 5 most played songs of the year revealed, plus more
Apple Music Replay launched its annual recap today, and alongside that personalized summary of the year’s activity, Apple has also revealed the most played songs of the year globally, and a lot more. more…02:35 pmA new iCloud alternative just dropped an 8TB lifetime subscription
FileLu gives you permanent storage instead of monthly fees. The lifetime plan gives you up to 8TB, accessible via desktop, mobile and browser. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:29 pmApple Music Replay 2025 personal listening recap is ready to explore and share
It’s officially time for Apple Music subscribers to recap their year in music. The 2025 Apple Music Replay is now available in Apple Music, providing a personalized look back at your year in music listening habits. more…02:16 pmApple Watch saves hiker after a blindfolded mountain fall
The Fall Detection feature of the Apple Watch helped save a hiker after he had a treacherous, blindfolded fall down a Colorado mountainside.Apple Watch Ultra 3The Apple Watch has frequently been cited as helping to save people's lives in emergency situations. In one new claim, it helped a man who hurt himself on top of a mountain.Hiker Phong Le was headed to Father Dyer Peak along a ridge of Mount Helen, in Breckenridge, Colorado, on Halloween. While traversing the ridge, he propped himself on a boulder to study his map, but the large rock gave way. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:04 pmPrivacy-focused Apple won’t comply with Indian order to preload state-run app
Apple has no intention of complying with the Indian government's directive to pre-install a state-developed so-called "cyber safety" app… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.01:52 pmApple refuses to pre-install government app on iPhones in India
Macworld Surprising no one, Apple has indicated that it will not comply with a new order from the Indian government requiring it to pre-install a state-run cybersecurity app on all iPhones sold in the country. According to three anonymous sources cited by Reuters, Apple “does not plan” to preload iPhones with the Sanchar Saathi app, which is supposed to combat fraud, track stolen devices, and deliver government messaging. Two of the sources added that Apple will convey to the ministry its concerns about the privacy and security implications of this plan. One of the sources added that Apple does not intend “to go to court or take a public stand.” Instead, it will simply (and, presumably, privately) tell the government that it cannot follow the order because of security factors. Reuters had earlier this week broken news of the confidential order, which is understood to have been passed on November 28. India’s telecoms ministry privately contacted smartphone makers–including Oppo, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as Apple–to instruct them to preload the app on all devices sold in the future, and to push it out to handsets already in use via software updates. It’s unclear whether the other companies intend to obey the order. The order further stipulated that the app’s functions could not be disabled or restricted by the user. Even at the time it seemed unlikely that Apple would comply with the order, as Reuters noted in its original article. A source with direct knowledge of the matter said that Apple’s internal policies “prohibit installation of any government or third-party app before sale of a smartphone,” and it has refused such requests on multiple occasions in the past. Apple has shown that it is prepared to resist official measures that it believes will compromise the security or privacy of iPhone users, even when doing so is unpopular, such as the iPhone 5c that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters back in 2015/2016. But in this case, the company would have considerable support. The ministry has been criticised heavily for what has been characterised as covert surveillance and governmental overreach, with one member of the main opposition party proclaiming that “Big Brother cannot watch us.” It doesn’t help that the precise terms of the order remain confidential and unclear. Defending the measures, telecom minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia insisted the app was “voluntary and democratic” and that users can “easily delete it from their phone at any time.” The app can indeed currently be deleted (it’s available for free on the App Store), but it would seem illogical for an order that insists the app cannot be disabled to not also stipulate that it cannot be deleted. Apple may agree to some sort of compromise, such as advertising or highlighting the app to Indian iPhone owners, but it would be a surprise if it agreed to preload the app. And given the company’s successful cultivation of friends in high places, it’s likely to receive assistance if political pressure is applied.