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- Saturday April 18
- 09:47 pmMacBook Neo has a chip supply problem, here’s how Apple could fix it
Apple has a chip problem. MacBook Neo is selling far better than the company had expected, and now it seems like there aren’t enough binned A18 Pro chips to keep the production run going for another 6-12 months before a new version is released. Some have floated the idea of Apple axing the 256GB trim, and just using an unbinned A18 Pro chip in the 512GB trim. That’s certainly plausible. I do wonder though, how can Apple prevent this from happening with every forthcoming MacBook Neo? more…09:15 pmShutting Down SlackBITS After Impersonation-Based Malware Attack
A convincing impersonation of TidBITS contributor Glenn Fleishman on our public Slack group fooled an experienced IT professional into installing the OSX.Odyssey infostealer. Because Slack is designed for internal groups, its identity controls and logging aren’t sufficient for safe public use, so we’re shutting down SlackBITS and moving to Discourse Chat.08:14 pmHere are all of the new Apple products worth waiting for, and what to avoid buying now
Apple has already unveiled numerous products to date, including new versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the iPad Air, the all-new MacBook Neo, and more. Despite having a busy season thus far, there’s still much more in the pipeline worth waiting for. more…07:30 pmIndie App Spotlight: ‘QuakeInfo’ is a fast and easy way to monitor ongoing earthquakes
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. If you live in a earthquake-prone climate, you might be interested in a tool to help monitor them. QuakeInfo is a long-standing app on the App Store, and it’s recently been updated with a Liquid Glass design and new features. more…05:55 pmApple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 3 variant could debut a groundbreaking new feature
Earlier this year, Apple acquired a secretive startup: Q.ai, for over 2 billion dollars. It’s the companies second largest acquisition to date, and it leaves you wondering: what’s the end game here? While smart glasses seem like an obvious play, there’s another Apple product in the pipeline that also seems quite fitting for this new technology. more…05:52 pm‘A Reading Room on Wheels, a Lover’s Lane, and, After 11 PM, a Flophouse’
Photos from the New York Subway in the 1940s, by teenage Stanley Kubrick.05:51 pmSecurity Bite: ClickFix malware authors already bypassing Apple’s new Terminal paste warning | 9 to 5 MacSecurity Bite: ClickFix malware authors already bypassing Apple’s new Terminal paste warning
9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations 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. As you may know, a couple weeks ago on Security Bite I was raving about Apple’s new warning prompt in Terminal that appears when a user pastes potentially malicious commands. The security feature was bundled into the public release of macOS Tahoe 26.4 to further disrupt ClickFix attacks, which are now the leading delivery mechanism for malware on Mac. However, it now appears malware authors are already deploying workarounds. more…03:18 pmICE monitoring app takedowns violated the First Amendment
A court has stopped the U.S. government from forcing Apple to take down ICE reporting apps from the App Store, due to it being a violation of the First Amendment.Image credit: TheFire.orgIn February, a lawsuit from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) took aim at the U.S. government over the right to report the activities of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).The preliminary finding, issued on April 17, lands in FIRE's favor, with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice being prevented from coercing Apple and Facebook into removing apps and interfering with communications. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums02:57 pmNever lose a show: This app saves your favorite streams for offline viewing
Save videos you care about so you can watch them whenever you want with Keeprix streaming downloader. Works with Netflix, YouTube and more. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:15 pmApple’s smart glasses come into focus [Cult of Mac podcast No. 16]
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New details emerge about Apple's smart glasses, including possible shapes, sizes and colors. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:15 pmApple’s smart glasses come into focus [Cult of Mac podcast No. 17]
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: New details emerge about Apple’s smart glasses, including possible shapes, sizes and colors. Now for the important question: Will we — or anybody else — actually want to wear a pair? Also on the Cult of Mac podcast: Apple reportedly plans a last-ditch effort to get its […] (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)02:05 pmThese are my favorite ultra-slim MagSafe batteries you can get today [Video]
I love MagSafe batteries and by this point, I have probably tested hundreds of them. There are plenty of great options out there with different capacities, charging speeds, built-in cables, and diagnostic displays, and there seems to be a MagSafe battery variant for any situation. But the feature I like most is thinness. While it’s great to have 10,000 mAh in a battery, that adds too much extra bulk in most daily cases. So over the last few months, I have been on the hunt for slim MagSafe batteries that add the least amount of bulk to my iPhone. These are the three best ones I’ve tested so far. more…02:00 pmToday in Apple history: Apple pays $15 million to promote Mission: Impossible
On April 18, 1996, Apple unveiled a massive $15 million promotional tie-in for the "Mission: Impossible" movie starring Tom Cruise. What a disaster! (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:36 pmHow to use the iPhone 16 Camera Control
The Camera Control is a new button on the iPhone that opens the camera, takes pictures and adjusts camera settings on the fly. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)01:35 pmHow to protect your privacy by opting out of data collection in popular AI apps [Sponsored] | 9 to 5 MacHow to protect your privacy by opting out of data collection in popular AI apps [Sponsored]
A recent study found that around a third of AI app users are having deeply personal conversations with the chatbots. Even if you’re not sharing your deepest fears with an AI app, your questions and conversations may still include a significant amount of personal data. A separate Stanford study found that six leading US AI companies all feed user inputs back into their models for future training, potentially putting your privacy at risk. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to manage this … more…01:29 pmApple @ Work: Free Apple device management is a baseline, not a finish line
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. Apple recently announced that the device management portion of its new Apple Business platform is now completely free. If you manage a fleet of Apple devices, this immediately caught your attention. It’s the first free device management system I can remember since Meraki’s System Manager. Giving small businesses a free tool to manage their Macs and iPhones is a huge win for the ecosystem. However, if you are an IT administrator looking at your current device management renewal and wondering if you can just cancel it and move everything to Apple, you need to pump the brakes a bit. Let’s look at why. more…01:00 pmMy Mac felt slow, but hardware wasn’t the problem. Here’s how I fixed it.
I thought my M4 Pro Mac mini was running slow because it needed more RAM. Turns out, it needed some spring cleaning and better usage habits. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)12:13 pmU.S. ITC won't allow Masimo to bring back the Apple Watch ban
The U.S. ITC has denied a request by Masimo to reinstate a ban on the Apple Watch, closing its case on alleged blood oxygen patent infringement.The rear sensor of the Apple WatchThe long-running lawsuit over the Apple Watch has continued, this time with a partial win for Apple. In the latest development, which saw Masimo accuse Apple of infringing on its blood oxygen patents, the medical tech firm was denied a review of a preliminary ruling.On March 19, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit backed the original ruling by the International Trade Commission. However, on March 18, the ITC made a ruling that Apple wouldn't have to do anything else to remedy the case. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums11:00 amTop Stories: iOS 27 rumors, Apple Glasses design, more
Welcome to 9to5Mac’s top stories of the week, where we recap the biggest news in the Apple world every Saturday. This week, we have iOS 26.4.1, more iOS 27 leaks, Apple Glasses rumors, and more Apple news. Plus, our usual slate of new podcast episodes, opinion pieces, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories. more…10:00 amINIU Cougar P64 140W review: Affordable fast MacBook power bank
Macworld At a glance Pros 140W PD 3.1 charging Large 25K battery capacity Cool looks Good value Cons Lower max output than rivals Our Verdict The Cougar P64 is a compellingly affordable power bank for MacBook owners with its speedy recharging and compact, lightweight form. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$89.99 Best Prices Today: INIU Cougar P64 140W Power Bank Retailer Price $79.98 View Deal INIU $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who is the INIU Cougar P64 for? This power bank is rated at 140W for 16-inch MacBook Pro fast charging but is a good-looking battery recharging solution for any MacBook owner, from the Neo up. If you’re away from a power socket long enough even a fully charged MacBook battery will eventually dry up, and that might be in the middle of a complex Excel spreadsheet, deep PowerPoint or just as the streamed movie is getting good. We’re used to carrying around a power bank for our phones—check out the best magnetic power banks for iPhone—but lugging one around that’s big enough to top up a thirsty laptop is not an everyday backpack companion. When you’re travelling having a high-capacity power bank nearby might just save that spreadsheet or presentation and get you to the end of the movie. Laptop power banks come in different capacities—the higher the milliamp hours or watt hours the more recharge power it brings—and at different speeds: the more watts, the faster the charge. We loved INIU’s Cougar P62-E1 laptop power bank for its lightweight compact form and fun color choices in a world of gray pillar designs. That model topped out at a 65W power output—just about enough watts to fast-charge a MacBook Air but falling a little short for a MacBook Pro. It can handle the Pro but a little slowly. Now it has a senior sibling, the Cougar P64 that is rated at PD 3.1, which means its Power Delivery is up to the 140W demanded by the 16-inch MacBook Pro for fast-charging. It will work at the max speed of all Apple’s other MacBooks, too. Simon Jary Full specs Battery capacity: 25000mAh (92.5Wh) Fastest Power Output: 140W Total Power Output: 145W Power Input: 80W USB ports: 1x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-C (45W); 1x USB-A (18W). Dimensions: 6.3 x 3.2 x 1 inches (159 x 81 x 25mm) Weight: 17.5oz (496g) Airline compatible: Yes Macworld Test Score: 119% It’s the slimmest and lightest of all the 140W laptop power banks we’ve tested, and maybe the best looking depending on whether you prefer the slab shape compared to its rivals’ pillar form. It ships with a 2-foot 240W USB-C to USB-C cable and a handy travel pouch. It’s available in either black or white, although the white model was hard to get at the time of writing. The EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank has an integrated USB-C cable that is convenient, especially if you are susceptible to forgetting to pack a cable on your travels. Fastest charging With a 140W USB-C port, the INIU Cougar P64 matches the speed of some of our other top-rated MacBook power banks, including the Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W), EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank 27K (300W), Ugreen 48000mAh Portable Power Bank (300W), Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank 20000mAh (165W) and others. At top-speed it should take only 30 minutes to simultaneously charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 60% and an iPhone 15 Pro Max to 62%. It also supports Samsung Super Fast Charge 2.0. 25K capacity and performance Its large 25,000mAh (92.5Wh) battery capacity is airline-approved, although it’s always worth checking before taking it to the airport as some airlines have their own rules. In our recharging test, the INIU Cougar P64 got a Macworld score of 119%. That means that it recharged our test 14-inch MacBook Pro from 0% to 100% and then another 19% on the second recharge. That compares favorably with the Anker Prime’s 125% and EcoFlow’s 120% scores. Max output Where it falls off in comparison to its rival 140W power banks—and therefore where you must compromise fir the lower cost—is its lower maximum power output. Using its two USB-C ports it can push out a total of 145W (100W+45W), where the Anker Prime, Ugreen 48000mAh and EcoFlow RAPID Pro each has a maximum 300W output. If you are wanting to recharge a few MacBooks at the same time, the P64 will do it slower than the others as it has less power to simultaneously share around. That said, when using all three at the same time, one laptop could be charged at 100W with the other two ports sharing 45W, which should be enough to fast-charge an iPhone (via the second USB-C) and a third device via the USB-A port. Input The P64 is no slouch when it comes to being recharging itself, with an 80W input speed. But the Anker Prime and EcoFlow Power Banks can use both their two 140W ports at the same time for far-higher input speeds of 250W and 280W respectively. If time is on your side before you venture out, 80W should be fast enough for a gentle power bank recharge. INIU Display The P64 has a large smart display, showing the remaining power in the power bank, the output power of each port, plus the remaining battery in terms of hours. Price How does the INIU Cougar P64 match up on price with its 140W rival power banks? Priced at $89.99 / £89.99 it looks like a bargain compared to the $229/£179 Anker Prime and $189/£169 EcoFlow RAID Pro. Those products have higher total power output when using more than one port at a time and much faster power bank recharging, but for a fast-charging laptop power bank the P64 is hard to ignore at this price. The Cuktech 15 Ultra is cheaper still at around $75 but has a lower 20K battery capacity and a larger body. Should you buy the INIU Cougar P64 140W 25K Power Bank? The Cougar P64 is a compellingly affordable power bank for MacBook owners with its speedy recharging and compact, lightweight form.